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S 3520

Exempts Staten Island residents from Verrazzano-Narrows bridge tolls

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Requires employers to grant one additional paid sick day per benefit year for healthcare diagnostic testing to eligible first responders, with rules to define qualifying tests.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 3520

S 3520 — Summary

Note: The bill’s title as provided (“Exempts Staten Island residents from Verrazzano-Narrows bridge tolls”) appears inconsistent with the introduced text, which concerns first responders and sick-leave benefits. The summary below focuses on the introduced version content, which adds paid sick leave for first responders to cover healthcare diagnostic testing.

Overview

  • Bill Number: S 3520
  • Title (introduced content): An Act concerning first responders and certain benefits; supplements Title 34 of the Revised Statutes.
  • Purpose: To strengthen recruitment and retention of first responders by requiring employers to provide one additional paid sick day per benefit year specifically earmarked for healthcare diagnostic testing.
  • Status: Referred to Transportation (initial actions show referrals to Law and Public Safety, then Transportation).
  • Introduced: June 28, 2024
  • Primary sponsors: M. Teresa Ruiz, Anthony M. Bucco, Jessica Scarcella-Spanton
  • Related measures: Companion bill A 5499; several prior-session or companion references (S 8269, A 9075, S 5507, A 2099)

Key Provisions

  • Additional sick leave for first responders

    • Employers must grant one additional paid sick day per benefit year for healthcare diagnostic testing.
    • This applies after the employee completes their first calendar year of service.

  • Who counts as a “first responder”

    • Paid law enforcement officer
    • Paid firefighter
    • Paid member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association
    • Paid emergency medical technician (EMT)
    • Paid paramedic

  • What qualifies as healthcare diagnostic testing

    • Medical tests or procedures recommended by a healthcare provider to prevent or diagnose a condition related to the employee’s duties as a first responder.
    • The determination of what tests qualify is made by the Commissioner of the Labor and Workforce Development, in consultation with relevant State, county, and municipal employers as needed.

  • Regulatory implementation

    • The Commissioner of the Labor and Workforce Development must adopt rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the bill’s purposes, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

  • Effective date

    • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Affected Parties

  • Employees: Paid first responders (as defined) who would receive one additional paid sick day per benefit year for healthcare diagnostic testing.
  • Employers: Entities employing paid first responders, who must provide the additional sick day and administer the benefit.
  • Regulators: Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, collaborating with state, county, and municipal employers for rulemaking.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Legislative path: Introduced in the Senate on June 28, 2024; referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee, with subsequent referrals to Transportation noted in later actions.
  • Rulemaking timeline: The bill requires regulatory adoption under the Administrative Procedure Act, but specific deadlines for rulemaking are not provided.
  • Next steps: If advanced, the bill would move through committee hearings, potential amendments, and floor votes in the Senate and House.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Workforce impact: Aimed at improving recruitment/retention by reducing barriers to testing for first responders.
  • Financial impact: Additional paid sick time represents a cost to employers; the extent depends on current leave policies and the workforce size of first responders.
  • Operational considerations: Clear definitions help ensure consistent application; regulatory rules will be key to standardizing which tests qualify and how the benefit is administered.
  • Policy alignment: Aligns with broader efforts to support first responders in performing duties safely and maintaining health.

Bottom Line

S 3520 would require employers to provide one extra paid sick day per benefit year for healthcare diagnostic testing to eligible first responders, with regulatory rules to define qualifying testing and implementation. The measure reflects an intent to bolster recruitment and safety for first responders, subject to legislative approval and regulatory rulemaking.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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