What's happening
This bill prohibits employers from firing employees who are late or absent due to responding to emergencies as volunteer firefighters or ambulance workers.
Why it matters
Supports emergency response. by ensuring that volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers can respond to emergencies without fear of losing their jobs, which could encourage more people to serve in these crucial volunteer roles.
Protects employees from termination. for being late or absent due to emergency response, but still allows employers to require documentation confirming the emergency activity and its timing.
Clarifies leave accounting. by permitting employers to charge the absence against any paid or unpaid leave the employee is otherwise entitled to, rather than mandating a new category of leave.
Covers travel time. to and from the emergency, recognizing that volunteer responders’ responsibilities extend beyond the actual emergency scene and ensuring full job protection during all aspects of the response.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Emergency Volunteer Jobs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to labor
- Referred to rules
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.
Protect Emergency Volunteers’ Jobs
In Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor Clifford Crouch
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6831
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 28, 2017
Introduced by Sen. JACOBS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to job protection for emergency service volunteers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 202-n to read as follows:
§ 202-n. Authorized absence. 1. If an employee is absent from or late to his or her employment in order to respond to an emergency prior to the time the employee is to report to his or her employment due to his or her engaging in the actual performance of his or her duties as (a) a volunteer firefighter, or (b) an enrolled member of a volunteer ambulance service pursuant to article thirty of the public health law, an employer shall be prohibited from terminating such employee on the basis of such absence or lateness.
2. The entire period of the authorized absence granted pursuant to this section may be charged against any other leave such employee is otherwise entitled to, and such authorized absence shall include travel both to and from such duties performed in his or her capacity as a volunteer. At the employer's request, the employee must provide the employer with a statement from the head of the volunteer firefighter or volunteer ambulance service, as applicable, stating the employee responded to an emergency and the time of such response.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04408-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to job protection for emergency service volunteers
Purpose or general idea of bill
To prohibit an employer from terminating an employee who is also a volunteer firefighter or a volunteer provider of emergency medical services when that employee misses or is late to work because of an emergency to which the employee was dispatched.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 202-n. Authorized absence.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Emergencies most often require immediate action on the part of local emergency workers, who at times risk their own lives to protect their neighbors, and communities throughout the state need these emergency workers to prevent loss of life or property. Many of these courageous men and women are volunteers. Volunteer EMTs, paramedics and firefighters assist in providing immediate medical attention in emergencies, which include automobile accidents, heart attacks, drowning, childbirth, gunshot wounds and fire emergencies. We need to protect these volunteers while they are protecting us. Numerous New York communities depend on volunteers, who may be late or miss work because they assisted at the scene of an emergency. This legislation balances the needs of the community at large with those of local businesses. Furthermore, in these times of continued emphasis on emergency preparedness and response, this legislation will make sure that emergency workers are not forced to decide whether they should respond to an emergency or risk losing the paying job that supports their family. Volunteer firefighters and EMS volunteers are an important part of emergency services, but employment pressures can often make it difficult to recruit and retain them. Steps like this that help them protect their financial livelihood while serving their communities should encourage more volunteers to stay on, and benefit everyone in the community. Many departments will be better able to bring on new volunteers and keep the ones they have because the volunteers don't have to be afraid of being disciplined or fired for being late or missing work for helping at an emergency scene.
Prior legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
None.
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.