BILL NUMBER: S10648
SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL: An act
implementing an agreement between the state and an employee organiza-
tion; providing for the adjustment of salaries of certain incumbents in
the professional service in the state university; and making an appro-
priation for the purpose of effectuating certain provisions thereof
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would implement the terms of a collective bargaining agreement
("the Agreement") between the executive branch of the State of New York
and the employee organization representing members of the collective
negotiating unit designated as the Professional Services Negotiating
Unit ("the Unit"), entered into pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil
Service Law ("CSL").
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill defines the terms "professional services unit,"
"the agreement" and "the employee organization" for purposes of this
Act.
Section 2, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the bill would provide for
increases in basic annual salary, in accordance with the terms of the
Agreement and on the operative dates set forth therein, in the following
amounts: a 4.5 % increase in 2026; a 4 % increase in 2027; a 3.5 %
increase in 2028; a 3 % increase in 2029; and a 3 % increase in 2030.
Section 2, subdivision 6 of the bill would provide that an employee who
was in service on April 30, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 or 2030, and whose
employment expired prior to July 1, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 or 2030,
respectively, and who would have been eligible for the salary increases
provided in subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this section if the employ-
ee's employment had continued through July 1 of such year, as appropri-
ate, would be eligible for the aforementioned salary increases if the
employee were reemployed in an equivalent position for at least one
semester or the equivalent of a twelve-month period commencing on July 1
of such year, as appropriate.
Section 2, subdivision 7 of the bill would provide that an employee who
was in service during a portion of the twelve-month period commencing on
July 1, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 or 2029 for at least one semester but
whose employment expired prior to July 1 of the following year, would be
eligible for the salary increases provided in subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5 of this section if the employee were reemployed in an equivalent
position for at least one semester or the equivalent of the twelve month
period commencing on July 1 of such following year.
Section 2, subdivision 8 of the bill would provide that consistent with
the terms of the Agreement, effective July 1, 2027, eligible full-time
incumbents would receive a lump sum payment of 450 dollars, added to
basic annual salary, no later than December 31, 2027. Furthermore,
subdivision 8 of the bill would provide that effective July 1, 2027,
eligible part-time incumbents would receive a lump sum payment of 225
dollars, which will not be added to basic annual salary, no later than
December 31, 2027. Effective July 1, 2030, eligible full-time incumbents
would receive a lump sum payment of 500 dollars, added to basic annual
salary, no later than December 31, 2030. And, eligible part-time incum-
bents would receive a lump sum payment of 250 dollars, which will not be
added to basic annual salary, no later than December 31, 2030.
Section 2, subdivision 8 of the bill also would provide that for each of
the years 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031, there would be an amount equal to
0.5 % of the total of basic annual salaries of applicable members of the
Unit on June 30 of each year available for distribution to eligible
incumbents as a payment by the State University Trustee, at their
discretion, with such distribution to occur no later than December 31 of
each of those four years.
Section 2, subdivision 9 of the bill would continue and increase the
current location pay benefit for eligible members of the Unit. For
eligible members whose work station is in the city of New York or in the
county of Suffolk, Nassau, Rockland or Westchester, the current amount
shall be increased to $4,150 effective July 1, 2026; to $4,316 effective
July 1, 2027; to $4,467 effective July 1, 2028; to $4,601 effective July
1, 2029; and to $4,739 effective July 1, 2030. For eligible members
whose work station is in the county of Dutchess, Putnam or Orange, as
well as the county of Ulster, the current amount shall be increased
$2,150 effective July 1, 2026; to $2,236 effective July 1, 2026; to
$2,314 effective July 1, 2028; to $2,383 effective July 1, 2029; and to
$2,454 effective July 1, 2030.
Section 2, subdivision 10(a) of the bill would continue other compen-
sation for eligible members of the Unit who have completed a certain
number of consecutive years of full-time service at the campus at which
they are currently employed, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.
Subdivision 10(a) also would increase the payment of the seven-year
advance effective July 1, 2027, 2028 and 2029 consistent with the terms
of the Agreement. Subdivision 10(b) would continue and increase the
award at 12 years of service for those individuals who received a
payment under (a), consistent with the terms of the Agreement, effective
July 1, 2027 and July 1, 2028. Subdivision 10(c) would create an award
at 17 years of service for eligible full-time employees, effective July
1, 2029, consistent with the terms of the Agreement.
Section 2, subdivision 10(d) would phase out the eight-year lump-sum
payment for eligible part-time employees on the date(s) provided in the
Agreement. This eight-year lump sum payment will sunset on the date set
forth in the Agreement. Subdivisions 10(e) and (f) create new twelve and
seven years of service annual lump sum payments, respectively, payable
to eligible part-time employees on the dates and in the amounts set
forth in the Agreement.
Section 2, subdivision 11 of the bill would provide that the basic annu-
al salary minimums of certain members of the Unit, as of June 30, 2026,
2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030, will be increased for eligible members
consistent with the amounts set out in the Agreement.
Section 2, subdivision 12 of the bill would continue the existing salary
minimums for eligible part-time academic employees who are not paid on
an hourly basis or on the basis of a basic annual salary, per three
credit course, increasing on the dates and in the amounts set forth
therein, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.
Section 2, subdivision 13 of the bill would provide that pursuant to the
terms of Appendix A-18 of the Agreement, employees in the Unit paid
according to the PGY Salary Schedules shall be paid according to the
salary schedules established and based on years of service effective
July 1 of 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
Section 2, subdivision 14 of the bill would provide that subdivisions 1,
2, 3, 4 and 5 of this section would apply on a prorated basis to incum-
bents otherwise eligible to receive an increase in salary, but who are
paid on an hourly or per diem basis, or who serve on a part-time basis
or who are paid on any basis other than at an annual salary rate.
Section 2, subdivision 15 of the bill would provide that the increases
in salary or other payments provided by this section would not apply to
employees deemed to be casual or to certain types of compensation (e.g.,
extra service, summer service).
Section 2, subdivision 16 of the bill would provide for the continuation
of the existing inconvenience pay program to eligible members of the
Unit who work four or more hours between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00
a.m., in the amount of $575 per year, increasing to $825 per year effec-
tive July 2, 2026.
Section 2, subdivision 17 of the bill would define the term "basic annu-
al salary" for purposes of this section and provides that nothing there-
in prevents increasing amounts paid to incumbents in the Unit beyond
basic annual salary, as long as certain conditions are met and certain
reports are submitted.
Section 2, subdivision 18 of the bill would provide that notwithstanding
any of the increases provided for in this section, any increase in
compensation may be withheld in whole or in part from an employee when,
in the opinion of the Chancellor and the Director of Employee Relations,
such increase is not warranted or is not appropriate.
Section 3, subdivision 1 of the bill would provide for 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3
and 3 percent increases to the salary or hourly rate of certain eligible
members of the Unit, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, that
are in lifeguard titles and who are in positions designated as part of
bargaining unit 68 effective April 1, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030,
respectively.
Section 3, subdivision 2 of the bill would provide that in accordance
with the terms of the Agreement, certain eligible members of bargaining
unit 68 who work at least 160 hours during the season (at least 20 days)
shall be entitled to additional compensation at their hourly rate, up to
a maximum of eight hours, for time worked on each of the first three
days during their employment in any seasonal period (April 1 to Septem-
ber 30 or October 1 to March 31) which are observed as holidays by the
State. Such compensation shall be paid retroactively upon completion of
five weeks of work. Additionally, subdivisions 3 and 4 of Section 3 of
the bill would provide lump sum payments to qualifying members of the
unit, subject to the criteria set forth in the Agreement, and in the
amounts and on the dates specified in the Agreement.
Section 3, subdivision 5 of the bill would provide that notwithstanding
any of the increases provided for in subdivision 1 of this section, any
increase in compensation may be withheld in whole or in part from an
employee when, in the opinion of the Director of OER and the Director of
the Budget, such increase is not warranted or is not appropriate.
Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the bill would continue the eligibility for the
existing recall compensation benefit, on-call compensation benefits and
part-time health insurance for eligible members of the Unit, in accord-
ance with the terms of the Agreement.
Section 7 of the bill would provide for a higher education differential
to eligible members of the professional services unit, consistent with
the terms of the Agreement.
Section 8 of the bill would continue certain Statewide joint labor
management committees, with funding in the amounts provided for in the
terms of the Agreement, for the period July 2, 2026 through July 1,
2031, as follows: the professional development committee; the employment
committee; the safety and health committee; the equal employment and
diversity committee; the joint committee on health benefits; the rede-
ployment committee; and the campus grants committee.
Section 9 of the bill would continue the publication of grievance arbi-
tration settlements and awards.
Section 10 of the bill would provide that the salary increases and bene-
fit modifications provided therein for applicable members of the Unit
would not be implemented until there is a fully executed collective
bargaining agreement between the State of New York and the employee
organization representing employees in this Unit that also has been
ratified by the applicable membership in accordance with the ratifica-
tion procedures of the employee organization.
Section 11 of the bill would provide that notwithstanding any provision
of law to the contrary, where, and to the extent that, the Agreement so
provides, where an employee in this Unit is affected by the State's
right to contract out, and in the event that such affected employee
obtains employment with the contractor, the employee would not be barred
from accepting such employment in accordance with the terms of the
Agreement.
Section 12 of the bill would provide that, in accordance with the terms
of the Agreement, the State of New York would contribute designated
amounts for the period covered by such Agreement to the accounts of
eligible employees who are enrolled for dependent care deductions pursu-
ant to subdivision 7 of State Finance L. § 201-a.
Section 13 of the bill would fix the date upon which eligible members of
the Unit would receive salary or hourly rate increases and deferred
payment of salary or hourly rate increases called for by the Agreement
between the parties.
Section 14 of the bill would provide a lump sum payment to incumbent
members of the Unit to cover the difference between the salary that an
employee would receive following the enactment of this bill and the
salary that such employee did receive prior to the enactment of this
bill. Such lump sum would be paid as soon as practicable.
Section 15 of the bill would provide for the use of appropriations to
pay any amounts required by the provisions of this bill.
Section 16 of the bill would provide for the use of special or adminis-
trative funds of the State to pay the compensation required by the
provisions of this bill.
Section 17 of the bill would provide that no employee participating in a
special annuity program pursuant to the provisions of Article 8-C of the
Education Law would, by reason of an increase in compensation pursuant
to this act, suffer any reduction of the salary adjustment to which such
employee would otherwise be entitled to by reason of participation in
such program, and such salary adjustment would be based upon the salary
of such employee without regard to the reduction authorized by the
Education Law.
Section 18 of the bill would provide an appropriation to pay for the
personal service, non-personal service and fringe benefit costs neces-
sary to implement the Agreement.
Section 19 of the bill would provide an appropriation to fund the Unit's
labor management committees and employee benefit fund, pursuant to the
Agreement.
Section 20 of the bill of the bill would provide that the act shall take
effect immediately and shall be deemed to have been in full force and
effect on and after July 2, 2026.
 
EXISTING LAW:
Chapter 189 of the Laws of 2023 sets the current compensation system for
members of the Unit, as well as other terms and conditions of employment
addressed by the expired collective bargaining agreement.
 
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT:
This bill is necessary to implement the terms of a collective bargaining
agreement between the Executive Branch of the State of New York and the
United University Professions, the employee organization certified to
represent members of the Unit, which was entered into pursuant to Arti-
cle 14 of the Civil Service Law. The prior agreement covering these
employees will expire on July 1, 2026. This new Agreement covers the
time period July 2, 2026 through July 1, 2031. Under Article 14 of the
CSL, the Agreement is binding on all parties to it. This bill incorpo-
rates the terms of that Agreement related to increases in compensation
and benefit modifications and appropriates funds necessary to pay for it
in accordance with the State's obligations.
 
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
This bill would provide appropriations totaling approximately $209
million to cover the personal service, non-personal service and fringe
benefit costs required of the Agreement during the period July 2, 2026
to June 30, 2027.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill would take effect immediately and would be deemed to have been
in full force and effect on and after July 2, 2026.