June 10, 2024 — The 2024 New York State legislative session concluded on June 8, with the Senate and Assembly sending more than 800 bills to Governor Kathy Hochul, who now has until Dec. 31, 2024, to sign or veto them.
Building off a successful state budget that included establishing a 3-year final average salary benefit for Tier 6 members, key PEF achievements included legislation centered around cleaning up toxic workplaces at State agencies and protecting the rights of workers with disabilities. Additionally, PEF helped draft the State’s first regulations addressing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and backed successful bills focused on workplace safety and mental health.
Legislation to address bullying and abuse pushed by PEF moves to the Governor
It was September 21, 2023, when PEF first started making noise about workplace bullying at State agencies. That march by members of the PEF Executive Board around Empire State Plaza near the State Capitol brought attention to an issue that had largely gone unnoticed, despite a 2021 survey that found 31 percent of State workers say they have directly experienced bullying while at work.
Working with the Statewide Political Action Committee (SWPAC), PEF drafted legislation that defines what bullying means under New York State law and requires public employers to evaluate their workplaces to determine the risks of abusive conduct and bullying. It also mandates training of employers and employees so that they can identify those risks and learn how to prevent them. It also includes language about “cyberbullying,” to cover harassment that can occur through electronic means.
PEF thanks every member who participated in the union’s Toxic Tales campaign to keep the spotlight on the issue and the determined work of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Jessca Ramos and Assemblymember Harry Bronson.
New York State breaks ground on AI regulation
Although AI has been in use for many years now, its growth across the State has been rapid and unchecked – until now. PEF and other unions who are part of the NYS AFL-CIO fought this session to make sure that AI oversight is top-of-mind for the state as it potentially threatens the livelihood of public sector workers. PEF President Wayne Spence and leaders from the Office of Information Technology Services provided testimony about AI, including other states’ use of software called COMPAS, which employs an inherently biased algorithm to try and predict the odds formerly incarcerated individuals will commit new crimes while on parole.
The result is the “Legislative Oversight of Automated Decision-making in Government” Act — also called the LOADinG Act.
If signed by the governor, LOADinG would ensure humans review the decision-making process when it comes to using AI in State government. Additionally, the act prohibits AI use for benefit determinations or delivery and includes protections for collective bargaining and displacement, regular impact assessments and testing as new systems arrive, and transparency about which systems are being used at state agencies.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Steven Otis.
Two bills centered around Civil Service Law Section 72
Section 72 of New York State’s Civil Service Law provides public employers the right to seek a medical review when it is believed that an employee may be unable to perform duties due to a physical and/or mental disability.
The process can be long and involves removing the employee from work while an exam is conducted. It also often involves a hearing requested by the employee. However, hearing officers have not historically been given binding authority, meaning employers too often ignore their recommendations. Additionally, employees who are put on leave during this process often are not given full records, correspondence or other information regarding the employer’s decision to seek a medical review.
Two bills pushed by PEF would amend Section 72 to give employees more power.
The first bill, S08948/A09935, would allow employees more access to information related to the employer’s judgement of an employee’s ability to perform their duties due to disability. It also allows employees the right to share the information with their authorized representative, such as a PEF field rep.
The second bill, S08960/A09932, gives hearing officers more binding authority. While the employer and employee will still have the right to appeal the decision through the Civil Service Commission, the bill removes the right for the employer to “either uphold the original proposed notice of leave of absence, withdraw such notice, or modify the notice as appropriate.”
Both bills were sponsored by Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato and Senator Robert Jackson, two stalwart PEF supporters in the Legislature.
OPWDD staffing bill sent to the governor
Staffing is a primary priority for PEF across all agencies. While several bills designed to make it easier for prospective employees to take civil service exams passed this session, one of the biggest problems in some agencies is a lack of reporting about staffing needs.
One such agency, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), could soon be required to produce and publish a report on staffing at state-operated facilities. The bill (S3105A/A9523) recognizes that short staffing too often results in low quality of care. It addresses the issue by requiring a review of OPWDD staffing back to 2022 and comparing the number of vacant positions to the number of eligible individuals with developmental disabilities who are on a waiting list to receive care. The data would be publicly available on the OPWDD website, forcing the agency to be more transparent about any future home closures or suspensions of services. PEF thanks Senator John Mannion and Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright for sponsoring it.
Continued efforts and looking ahead to 2025
While the 2024 legislative session is in the history books, the work never stops for the union.
“Thanks to the leadership and support of the New York State Senate and Assembly Majorities, led by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie as well as key partners like the NYS AFL-CIO, our members and other coalition partners, PEF successfully leveraged the ‘Fund Our Future’ campaign to build upon our achievements in the 2024 state budget,” said President Spence.
All the union’s legislative accomplishments built upon significant achievements in the budget process, including additional improvements to Tier 6 of the pension plan, the end of the state’s lag payroll and salary deferral programs, continued expansion of inpatient psychiatric beds, and the successful saving of SUNY Downstate Medical Center, which the State wanted to close.
“PEF will continue working with the Governor to encourage her to sign each of these bills into law so that we can continue to make progress attracting and retaining the workers we need so the state can continue to deliver the excellent services taxpayers need and expect,” Spence said.