June 10, 2024 — As chairperson of the State Assembly Governmental Employees Committee, Amato is working on reforms to the Civil Service system, pension equity for Tier 5 and Tier 6 members, and protecting health insurance benefits.
Amato told the PEF board that while the fight continues to make additional legislative changes to Tier 6, she is optimistic that the work being done in the Assembly is helping to create change and the Governor sees the value of public-sector workers. She also said that while change is incremental, she is sure that PEF and other public-sector workers will get there by continuing to put pressure on the Legislature and the Governor.
“I’m proud of the work that we’ve done, even on changing the vested contribution rates after five years. And we will continue to do that kind of work,” Amato said. “It has been my honor to be your champion here.”
Amato shared with the board that two PEF bills passed in the Assembly – bill S08960/A09932, which expands the authority of hearing officers regarding judgement about an employee’s inability to perform their duties due to a disability, and bill S08948/A09935, which requires that specific information regarding the judgement of an employee’s inability to perform duties due to a disability be provided by the employee and their representative.
She said the bills put a little more power in the hands of employees and their representatives when employees are attempting to make their case during Civil Service Law Section 72 hearings, which deal with disability and readiness to return to work.
Sen. Jackson is chairman of the State Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee. A former PEF member and staff employee, Jackson is a long time PEF ally. He’s also the one who coined the phrase, “Tier 6 Sucks!”
“This year, we reduced the final average salary calculation from five years to the highest three years,” he said. “So, when you retire, it is based on the highest three years that you’ve earned. I want you to be able to retire with your pension, your Social Security,
and whatever little money you have saved up to enjoy your life. That’s what this is all about.”
Jackson also celebrated the waiver of Civil Service exam fees and other financial barriers to bringing in new workers to fill the estimated 12,000 positions still open across New York State. With the arrival of these changes, the opening of new regional testing centers, and the NY HELPS program allowing for fast-tracked emergency hires, Jackson said that New York is on its way to being an attractive employer again.
“The passage of my bill, S05486, will further illustrate our commitment to accessibility and fairness by requiring broader announcements of Civil Service exams,” said Jackson. “We have to be able to announce it where everyone knows it.”
Jackson also shared how proud he was that the State Senate passed PEF’s Anti-Bullying in the Workplace bill sponsored by Senate Labor Committee Chair Senator Jessica Ramos. The Assembly has passed the bill as well, and PEF will be pushing the Governor to sign it. The bill requires public employers to evaluate their workplaces to determine risks for “abusive conduct” and “bullying” and expands existing training requirements on how to identify, prevent, and report workplace bullying and abusive conduct.
“None of this could have ever been gained without your voice and participation,” Jackson said to the Executive Board. “(You should) always know that when this chair of the Civil Service and Pensions committee walks into a room, it means that you—the members—are in the room too.”