BILL NUMBER: S4864

SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to health care and
mental hygiene worker bonuses

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill includes fire districts as eligible employers under the New
York State Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus (HWB) Program.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

This bill amends the social services law by amending section 367-w to
include fire districts under the definition of municipal corporation.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Part ZZ of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022 established the New York State
              

Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus (HWB) Program, which allo-
cated funding for the payment of bonuses for certain frontline health-
care workers.

While fire districts are covered under the definition of municipal
corporation in other sections of state law (General Municipal Law
section 119-n), fire districts were not included in the definition of
municipal corporation under Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022.

Despite the state Department of Health clarifying on the NYS Health Care
Worker Bonus (HWB) Program FAQ website that fire districts are "eligible
employers," the first responders employed by fire districts have unable
to access the HWB Program.

This legislation would address this technical drafting error and allow
for the front line health care workers, including certified first
responders, emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical
technicians, and paramedics employed by fire districts to be eligible
for the HWB Program.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately