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- Referred to labor
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Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S6740
Title of bill
An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to the maximum weekly benefits payable to disabled employees and employee contributions for disability benefits
Purpose
This bill would provide an increase in temporary disability benefits up to a cap of 1/2 of the average weekly wage in three steps over three years, and indexed thereafter.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends subdivision 2 of section 204 of the workers' compensation law to gradually increase the capped amount of Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) benefits in three steps from its current level of $170 per week. On January 1, 2015 the benefit will equal 1/2 of an employee's weekly wage, up to maximum of 35% of the Statewide Average Weekly Wage (AWW). This cap increases to 40% in 2016, and 50% in 2017 where it will remain.
Section 2: Amends subdivision 3 of section 209 of the workers' compensation law permitting the Superintendent of Financial Services to annually determine the amount of employee contributions that will sufficiently fund the TDI program commencing one or after January 1, 2015.
Section 3: This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Currently, the maximum weekly benefit that may be obtained under New York's Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) program is $170. This level has gone unchanged since 1989, even as individual's see their living costs increase. For New Yorkers, this benefit is too small to replace the wages they would otherwise earn if not for their disability. That is why this legislation will raise the maximum cap to 35% of the Statewide Average Weekly Wage (AWW) in 2015, 40% in 2016, and 50% in 2017. Following the last step up, the maximum would be indexed to the AWW in perpetuity to ensure that the benefit rises alongside living expenses. Without a higher benefit, our current disability system does not give New Yorkers the support they need to manage work and life.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.