BILL NUMBER: S3911

SPONSOR: JACOBS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to job protection for emer-
gency 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 firefight-
ers 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 commu-
nity 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 serv-
ing 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:

S.6831 (2017-2018) Died in Labor

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.