What's happening
This bill requires New York state agencies to protect the salary and benefits of employees transferred after position eliminations due to privatization, reorganization, closure, or workforce reductions.
Why it matters
Protects financial stability for affected workers. By guaranteeing the same hourly salary for employees transferred to positions at the same or higher grade, the bill ensures that state workers do not face pay cuts as a result of agency changes outside their control, such as privatization or closures.
Preserves earned benefits and accrued time off. Employees keep previously earned sick leave and get flexible options for vacation leave—either retaining, cashing out, or using it to extend their layoff date—helping cushion the impact of organizational disruptions.
Reduces the financial burden of forced relocation. Requiring the hiring agency to cover relocation expenses for transferred employees removes a significant barrier for workers who must move due to changes driven by state agency decisions.
Buffers against negative impacts of public-sector restructuring. By putting these protections in law, the bill aims to make state employment more stable and predictable during periods of reorganization or cost-cutting, which can help with employee morale and retention.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Transferred Worker Benefits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to labor
- Referred to labor
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 Benefits for Transferred Workers
In Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor William Colton
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3870
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 20, 2019
Introduced by Sens. PERSAUD, PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring that state agencies must protect salary and benefits of employees whose positions are eliminated as a result of privatization, reorganization, closure or a reduction in work force
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. Salary and benefits protection - employee transfer. An employee whose position is eliminated as a result of privatization, reorganization of an agency, closure of or a reduction in force at an agency, or other actions by the legislature and who is subsequently transferred to a different position in a state agency is entitled to:
1. the same hourly salary as previously received if the new position is at the same grade level or higher as the one previously held;
2. retain all accrued sick leave credits;
3. retain, cash out, or use accrued vacation leave credits to extend the employee's effective layoff date; and
4. relocation expenses which must be paid by the hiring agency.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04425-01-9
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 requiring that state agen- cies must protect salary and benefits of employees whose positions are eliminated as a result of privatization, reorganization, closure or a reduction in work force
Purpose or general idea of bill
To protect the salaries and benefits of employees of state agencies whose positions are being eliminated.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill adds a new Section 202-i, to provide that any employee, whose position is lost due to certain reasons and is transferred to a differ- ent position in a state agency, is entitled to the same salary and bene- fits in the new position.
Justification
This bill offers protection to state employees whose jobs may be elimi- nated for reasons beyond their control. This bill will help ensure that these employees still maintain the same hourly salary and benefits if their position is eliminated because of privatization, reorganization, closure or a reduction in work force. In 2005, the Department of Labor (DOL) commenced the closure of offices in New York City. The DOL offered these employees positions in Troy, New York, 150 miles from New York City. Those who contemplated moving would have to bear certain costs associated with the move. This legislation would allow employees to switch positions while limiting the employees' inconvenience.
Prior 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.