What's happening
This bill requires New York to create and distribute a guide with best practices for businesses to support and retain employees who are informal caregivers.
Why it matters
Acknowledges the growing number of employees who are informal caregivers. , signaling a shift in workplace demographics and the need for employer awareness about the challenges these workers face balancing job and caregiving responsibilities.
Promotes retention and productivity by helping businesses adopt best practices. such as flexible schedules, leave policies, or support resources—which can reduce turnover and absenteeism among employees who are informal caregivers.
Requires annual updates and centralized distribution of the guide. , ensuring that businesses receive current, practical information and that best practices evolve along with workforce needs and legal standards.
Encourages collaboration between government, business, and community organizations. , potentially leading to more comprehensive and effective support for informal caregivers, while also raising the profile of caregiver issues at the state level.
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Who cares
State Office for the Aging and Department of Labor
They would develop and annually update a guide on retaining and supporting employees who are informal caregivers.
New York businesses
They would gain access to retention guidance, with businesses applying for Labor or State Department certification or licensure receiving a link or a paper copy upon request.
Employees who are informal caregivers
The guide would give employers information on supporting their effectiveness both in and out of the workplace.
Community-based caregiver organizations
Organizations representing informal caregivers would be consulted in developing and updating the guide.
Headline styles
Support Workers Who Care
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to aging
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Support Guides for Caregivers
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4930
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sen. DIAZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to the provision of guides containing best practices for retaining employees who are informal caregivers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 224 to read as follows:
§ 224. Informal caregivers in the workplace program. 1. The office shall, in conjunction with the department of labor, and in consultation with community based organizations representing the interests of informal caregivers around the state, develop and update on a yearly basis a guide for businesses in the state that contains current best practices for retaining employees who are also informal caregivers and information for supporting such employees so they can achieve effectiveness both in and out of the workplace.
2. Such guide shall be available on the websites of the office, the department of labor and the department of state. Businesses that obtain certification or licensure from the department of labor or department of state shall be provided with a link to the guide provided for in subdivision one of this section, or a paper copy upon request, when the business applies for such certification or licensure. A nominal fee may be charged for paper copies provided to individuals who are not business owners.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03440-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the elder law, in relation to the provision of guides containing best practices for retaining employees who are informal caregivers
Purpose or general idea of bill
To make materials available to employers in New York state on the issue of informal caregiving by employees.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends the Elder Law by adding a new section 224. Establishes the informal caregivers in the workplace program. Provides that the New York State Office for the Aging, in conjunction with the Department of Labor, shall develop and update a guide for businesses in the State that contain best practices for retaining and assisting employees who are also informal caregivers.
Section 2. Effective Date
Existing law
None
Justification
Recent studies indicate that if we were to quantify that value of informal caregiving as a part of our healthcare system, it would account for well over $20 billion each year. Many employers and employees at some point have to care for a disabled parent, spouse, or child, and in many cases are unable to appropriately assist employees in this situation. What this bill attempts to do is develop and disseminate materials to employees and employers about informal caregiving, how it impacts their businesses, and how businesses can support their caregiving employees.
Prior legislative history
2016: S.478-REFERRED TO AGING/A.294-ordered to third reading cal.21 2105: S.478-REFERRED TO AGING/A.294-passed assembly 2014: S.314A - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.1857A - Passed Assembly 2013: S.314A - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.1857A - Passed Assembly 2012: S.1897 - Notice of Committee Consideration Requested, Discharged, Committed to Rules/A.1902 - Held for consideration in Ways and Means 2011: S.1897- Discharged from Aging Committed to Civil Service and Pensions/A.1902 - Reported, Referred to Ways and Means 2009-10: A.8233 - Died on Third Reading Calendar
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.