What's happening
This bill requires promotions to certain supervisory positions in the New York City Sanitation Department to be based on competitive examination and seniority, prioritizing internal candidates.
Why it matters
Prioritizes career growth for existing sanitation workers. by mandating that promotions to General Superintendent 2 and 3 come from within the department, encouraging long-term employee retention and institutional expertise.
Ensures promotions are merit-based, not just by seniority or appointment. , by requiring competitive exams and consideration of experience and performance, reducing the potential for favoritism or purely discretionary advancement.
Levels the playing field for provisional or discretionary appointees. by guaranteeing them the chance to compete in promotional exams, rather than being excluded or permanently locked into temporary roles.
Preserves department-specific knowledge and operational stability. by restricting external hires for these key positions, thus maintaining continuity and efficiency in essential city services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Promote Sanitation Workers Internally
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to civil service and pensions
- Referred to civil service and pensions
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.
Promote Sanitation Workers Internally
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Employees · Sponsor Peter Abbate
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3921
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 21, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to the appointment and promotion of certain personnel of the sanitation department of the city of New York
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The civil service law is amended by adding a new section 59-c to read as follows:
§ 59-c. Promotions of certain personnel of the sanitation department of the city of New York. 1. The legislature hereby finds and declares that the continued, uninterrupted, adequate and efficient operation of the sanitation department of the city of New York is necessary for the general welfare of the people; that such adequate operation involves and requires personnel with highly specialized ability, skill, training and knowledge, which necessitate that vacancies in the sanitation department of the city of New York in the positions of General Superintendent 2 and General Superintendent 3, shall be filled as far as practicable by promotion from among persons holding competitive class positions in a lower grade in the sanitation department of the city of New York in which the vacancy exists, provided that such lower grade positions are in direct line of promotion, as determined by such sanitation department or the municipal commission.
2. Promotion shall be based on merit and fitness as determined by competitive examination, due weight being given to seniority. The previous training and experience of the candidates, and performance ratings where available, may be considered and given due weight as factors in determining the relative merit and fitness of candidates for promotion.
3. Any employee holding a provisional or discretionary appointment in the affected titles of the sanitation department of the city of New York described in subdivision one of this section shall be given the opportu-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09631-01-9
S. 3921 2
nity to participate in a competitive promotional examination for the next higher level title.
4. Except as provided above, the provisions of this chapter shall apply to employees covered by this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to the appointment and promotion of certain personnel of the sanitation department of the city of New York
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill adds a new section 59-B to the Civil Service Law to provide that vacancies in the supervisory personnel of the sanitation force in the city of New York in the titles of General Superintendent 2 and General Superintendent 3 and/or positions with equivalent duties and responsibilities, shall be filled by promotion from among employees holding competitive class positions in a lower grade in the department, and that such promotions shall be based on merit and fitness examina- tion. This bill also provides that any employee holding a provisional on an affected position in the supervisory personnel of the Sanitation Department on the date of enactment shall be given the opportunity to participate in a competitive promotional examination for the next higher title. Finally, this bill provides that other than as provided in this section, the remainder of the civil service law shall apply to employees serving in an affected title.
Section 2 of this bill provides that this act shall take effect imme- diately.
Justification
The New York State Constitution, Article V, Section 6 mandates that "Appointments and promotions in the civil service of the State and all of the civil divisions thereof, including cities and villages, shall be made according to merit and fitness to be ascertained as far as practi- cable by examination which as far as practicable, shall be competitive."
The proposed addition to Title A of Article 4 of the Civil Service Law would ensure that, consistent with the New York Constitution, superviso- ry personnel in the Department of Sanitation are the most qualified to serve in these positions of paramount responsibility. The supervisory personnel of sanitation employees in large metropolitan areas experience daily the challenges of providing timely, high-quality assistance during day to day operations and emergencies. Only the most qualified personnel deserve promotion to these supervisory positions. Promotions made in accordance with competitive examination ensure that the highest level of service is rendered to the public in the most efficient and competent possible manner.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This bill shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.