December 12, 2024 — One of PEF’s legislative priorities was signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Dec. 5, 2024. The law removes significant barriers for workers wishing to access New York State Workers’ Compensation benefits to cover work-related stress injuries. This new law applies to every level of the Civil Service workforce. Previously, work-related stress claims were only available for police, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and emergency dispatchers.
“PEF members are often subjected to very traumatizing situations,” said PEF President Wayne Spence. “This will allow members who experience horrific events to get the mental health treatment they need without facing a loss of income. We thank Governor Hochul and the bills’ sponsors, Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Karines Reyes, for continuing to make mental health a priority.”
After a decade of budget cuts and service reductions at the Office of Mental Health (OMH), Governor Hochul has made substantive efforts to restore state-operated mental health services, including dedicating more than $87 million to re-open 350 state-operated mental health beds at OMH facilities.
PEF continues to lobby for additional staff and resources for state-operated mental health facilities to address mental health issues across the State as part of the union’s “Fund Our Future for a Thriving New York” campaign.
Editor’s Note: Multiple other PEF legislative priorities are set to be considered by Gov. Hochul before the end of the year. Members are encouraged to make their voices heard by calling the Governor’s office or filling out forms that are linked here.