NY State Senate Bill 2021-S6424

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Civil Service And Pensions Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 05, 2022	referred to civil service and pensions
Apr 28, 2021	referred to civil service and pensions

co-Sponsors

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A7385
Current Committee:: Senate Civil Service And Pensions
Law Section:: Civil Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §130, Civ Serv L; amd §606, Tax L; add §679-k, amd §§355 & 6206, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2023-2024: A2053, A8996
2025-2026: A7203

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the "New York state nurse employment, enhancement and dignity act" to provide hazard pay to nurses during a state disaster emergency, an annual tax credit for nurses, a student loan forgiveness program for nurses, and preferential school admission for nurses.

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6424

SPONSOR: RIVERA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the civil service law, the tax law and the education
law, in relation to enacting the "New York state nurse employment,
enhancement and dignity act"

 
PURPOSE:

To assist nurses in maintaining and attaining the credentials necessary
for licensure and to provide a pathway to encourage more New Yorkers to
enter into the profession of nursing.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 provides that this act be known as the "New York state nurse
employment, enhancement and dignity act."

Section 2 provides for the legislative findings regarding the profession
of nursing and their contributions to the health and safety of New York

state residents.

Section 3 renumbers subdivision 14 of section 130 of the civil service
law to be subdivision 15, and a new subdivision 14 is added, related to
hazard duty payments to nurses during a state emergency disaster decla-
ration.

Section 4 adds a new subsection (kkk) to Section 606 of the tax law to
provide for nurse exemptions and the allowance of a $500 annual tax
credit for nurses, as well as overpayment provisions for the tax credit.

Section 5 adds a new section 679-k to the education law to provide for a
$1,000 annual tuition forgiveness program for nurses. Provides that the
president shall grant student loan forgiveness awards for nurses in the
state. This section also determines eligibility for the award.

Section 6 amends subdivision 2 of section 355 of the education law to
add a new subparagraph 4-b, to provide that regulations are to require
the admission of any professional or practical nurse, nurse practition-
er, or clinical nurse specialist who provides licensed medical care and
is employed by the state or other state-operated agency or facility, for
the purpose of obtaining a bachelor's degree.

Section 7 amends subdivision 7 of section 6206 of the education law to
add a new paragraph f to provide that the board of trustees are to adopt
regulations requiring the admission of any professional or practical
nurse, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist who provides
licensed medical care and is employed by the state or other state-oper-
ated agency or facility, to obtain a bachelor's degree.

Section 8 provides for the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The state's nursing corps, already grossly underpaid, have been at the
forefront of the battle against COVID-19, tirelessly serving New York's
most vulnerable and at-risk residents. These front-line workers have
persevered despite inadequate and inappropriate personal protective
equipment, long and difficult work shifts, understaffing, re-deploy-
ments, child care issues, the emotional and psychological impact of
treating many chronically and terminally-ill patients, and separation
from their families due to the heightened risk of exposure to COVID-19.

The state continues to face challenges attracting and retaining nurses
in its residential facilities, Department of Corrections and Community
Supervision (DOCCS) facilities, and at the SUNY health science centers,
due to chronically low salaries and challenging working conditions. The
failure to recognize and address this long-term problem has resulted in
additional stresses being placed on the state's nursing corps and the
hiring of "agency" or contract nurses to meet the growing need for
direct care staff.

This legislation would begin to address these issues by rewarding dedi-
cated staff for their service and by providing tangible support to help
them meet their continuing education and certification requirements.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately and shall be deemed effective on and after April 1, 2021.

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6424
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 28, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  RIVERA -- 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, the tax  law  and  the  education
   law,  in  relation  to  enacting the "New York state nurse employment,
   enhancement and dignity act"

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "New York state nurse employment, enhancement and dignity act".
   § 2. Legislative Findings.   The profession of nursing is critical  to
 the  general health and safety of the residents of the state of New York
 and the need for nurses has been exacerbated by the  COVID-19  pandemic.
 The  nursing  shortage and high attrition rates for nursing titles nega-
 tively impacts patients and staff and serves to undermine the quality of
 care in this state.   The educational requirements  for  licensure  into
 certain  nursing  titles has served as a practical and financial barrier
 to too many aspiring health care professionals.  As an employer and  the
 entity  charged  with  the care of the state's most vulnerable, New York
 state must lead the way in making this profession  more  accessible  and
 attractive  so  as  to ensure the quality and continuity of care for New
 York's most at-risk citizens.
   § 3. Subdivision 14 of section 130 of the civil service law is  renum-
 bered  subdivision  15  and  a  new  subdivision  14 is added to read as
 follows:
   14. HAZARD DUTY PAYMENTS TO NURSES DURING A STATE  EMERGENCY  DISASTER
 DECLARATION.    (A) ANY PROFESSIONAL OR PRACTICAL  NURSE,  NURSE PRACTI-
 TIONER,  OR  CLINICAL  NURSE  SPECIALIST RECOGNIZED IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH
 SECTIONS SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FIVE, SIX THOUSAND NINE  HUNDRED SIX,
 SIX  THOUSAND  NINE  HUNDRED TEN AND SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED ELEVEN OF
 THE EDUCATION LAW WHO IS EMPLOYED BY THE STATE AND PROVIDES SERVICES  IN
 A  LICENSED  MEDICAL  CARE  OR  OTHER  STATE-OPERATED AGENCY OR FACILITY
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD10784-01-1

 S. 6424                             2
 
 DURING  ANY  STATE  DISASTER  EMERGENCY DECLARED  PURSUANT   TO  ARTICLE
 TWO-B OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW TO PROVIDE FOR THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE
 OF THE PUBLIC SHALL BE AWARDED A HAZARDOUS DUTY DIFFERENTIAL.
   (B)    A  HAZARDOUS  DUTY DIFFERENTIAL UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE
 TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.  THE HAZARD PAY  DIFFERENTIAL  PROVIDED  IN
 THIS  SUBDIVISION  SHALL  BE  IN ADDITION TO AND SHALL NOT BE PART OF AN
 EMPLOYEE'S BASIC ANNUAL SALARY, AND  SHALL  NOT  AFFECT  OR  IMPAIR  ANY
 PERFORMANCE ADVANCEMENT PAYMENTS, PERFORMANCE AWARDS, LONGEVITY PAYMENTS
 OR  OTHER  RIGHTS OR BENEFITS TO WHICH AN EMPLOYEE MAY BE ENTITLED UNDER
 THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY DIFFERENTIAL
 PAYABLE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE INCLUDED  AS  COMPENSATION
 FOR  RETIREMENT  PURPOSES.    EMPLOYEES  ELIGIBLE  FOR  THE  HAZARD DUTY
 PAYMENTS AUTHORIZED BY THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL ALSO  RECEIVE  THIRTY-FIVE
 HOURS  OF  ADDITIONAL VACATION TIME ACCRUAL.  THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET
 SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   § 4. Section 606 of the tax law  is  amended    by  adding    a    new
 subsection (kkk) to read as follows:
   (KKK)   NURSE EXEMPTION. (1) ALLOWANCE OF CREDIT. A TAXPAYER THAT IS A
 PROFESSIONAL OR PRACTICAL  NURSE,  NURSE   PRACTITIONER,   OR   CLINICAL
 NURSE    SPECIALIST IN THE STATE RECOGNIZED IN ACCORDANCE  WITH SECTIONS
 SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FIVE, SIX THOUSAND NINE   HUNDRED  SIX,    SIX
 THOUSAND  NINE  HUNDRED  TEN AND SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THE
 EDUCATION LAW AND WHO PROVIDES SERVICES IN A LICENSED  MEDICAL  CARE  OR
 OTHER  STATE-OPERATED AGENCY OR FACILITY IN THIS STATE SHALL  BE ALLOWED
 AN ANNUAL CREDIT OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AGAINST THE TAX IMPOSED BY THIS
 ARTICLE.
   (2) OVERPAYMENT. IF THE  AMOUNT  OF  THE  CREDIT  ALLOWED  UNDER  THIS
 SUBSECTION FOR ANY TAXABLE YEAR EXCEEDS THE TAXPAYER'S TAX FOR THE TAXA-
 BLE  YEAR,  THE  EXCESS  SHALL BE TREATED AS AN OVERPAYMENT OF TAX TO BE
 CREDITED OR REFUNDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS  OF  SECTION  SIX
 HUNDRED  EIGHTY-SIX OF THIS ARTICLE, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, NO INTEREST WILL
 BE PAID THEREON.
   § 5. The education law is amended by adding a  new  section  679-k  to
 read as follows:
   § 679-K. NEW YORK STATE NURSING LOAN FORGIVENESS INCENTIVE PROGRAM. 1.
 PURPOSE.  THE  PRESIDENT SHALL GRANT STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS AWARDS FOR
 THE PURPOSE OF ALLEVIATING THE BURDEN OF  STUDENT  LOAN  DEBT FOR NURSES
 IN THE STATE. SUCH AWARDS SHALL BE MADE  ON    A  COMPETITIVE  BASIS  AS
 PROMULGATED  BY  THE  CORPORATION FOR SUCH PURPOSES, TO  APPLICANTS  WHO
 MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL  INCLUDE
 PROVISIONS  FOR  THE  CONSIDERATION OF APPLICANTS WHO   ARE ECONOMICALLY
 DISADVANTAGED.
   2.   ELIGIBILITY. TO  BE  ELIGIBLE  FOR  AN  AWARD  PURSUANT  TO  THIS
 SECTION, APPLICANTS SHALL:
   (A)  HAVE  GRADUATED  AND  OBTAINED A DEGREE FROM AN APPROVED NEW YORK
 STATE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY;
   (B) HAVE AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT LOAN DEBT FROM OBTAINING SUCH DEGREE;
   (C)  BE EMPLOYED AS A PROFESSIONAL OR PRACTICAL  NURSE,  NURSE PRACTI-
 TIONER,  OR  CLINICAL  NURSE  SPECIALIST IN THE STATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
 SECTIONS SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FIVE, SIX THOUSAND NINE  HUNDRED SIX,
 SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED TEN AND SIX THOUSAND NINE  HUNDRED  ELEVEN  OF
 THIS CHAPTER;
   (D) APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF COLLEGE GRADUATION;
   (E) COMPLY WITH SUBDIVISION  FIVE  OF  SECTION  SIX  HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE
 OF THIS PART;

 S. 6424                             3
 
   (F)   MAKE   A  COMMITMENT  TO  PRACTICE IN A LICENSED MEDICAL CARE OR
 OTHER STATE-OPERATED AGENCY OR FACILITY IN  THIS  STATE  FOR  A  MINIMUM
 PERIOD  OF TEN YEARS OR FOR THE DURATION OF THE AWARD WHICHEVER IS LONG-
 ER.
   3.   AWARDS. THE CORPORATION SHALL  GRANT  SUCH  AWARDS  NOT TO EXCEED
 ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER RECIPIENT PER YEAR AND THE TOTAL  COST  OF  ANY
 AWARDS  MADE  SHALL FALL WITHIN   AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED FOR SUCH PURPOSES
 AND BASED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
   § 6. Paragraph (h) of subdivision 2 of section 355  of  the  education
 law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 4-b to read as follows:
   (4-B)  NOTWITHSTANDING  THE PROVISIONS OF ANY OTHER GENERAL OR SPECIAL
 LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL  REQUIRE
 ADMISSION OF ANY PROFESSIONAL OR PRACTICAL  NURSE,  NURSE  PRACTITIONER,
 OR   CLINICAL   NURSE SPECIALIST RECOGNIZED IN ACCORDANCE  WITH SECTIONS
 SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FIVE, SIX THOUSAND NINE   HUNDRED  SIX,    SIX
 THOUSAND  NINE  HUNDRED TEN AND SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THIS
 CHAPTER AND WHO IS EMPLOYED BY THE STATE AND WHO PROVIDES SERVICES IN  A
 LICENSED  MEDICAL  CARE  OR  OTHER STATE-OPERATED AGENCY OR FACILITY FOR
 PURPOSES OF ATTAINING THE BACCALAUREATE DEGREE  REQUIREMENTS  PRESCRIBED
 BY SECTION SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER.
   §  7. Subdivision 7 of section 6206 of the education law is amended by
 adding a new paragraph (f) to read as follows:
   (F) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF ANY  OTHER  GENERAL  OR  SPECIAL
 LAW,  RULE  OR  REGULATION  TO THE CONTRARY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL
 ADOPT REGULATIONS REQUIRING ADMISSION OF ANY PROFESSIONAL  OR  PRACTICAL
 NURSE,  NURSE   PRACTITIONER,  OR  CLINICAL  NURSE SPECIALIST RECOGNIZED
 IN ACCORDANCE  WITH SECTIONS SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FIVE,  SIX  THOU-
 SAND  NINE  HUNDRED SIX,  SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED TEN AND SIX THOUSAND
 NINE HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER AND WHO IS EMPLOYED BY THE STATE AND
 WHO PROVIDES SERVICES IN A LICENSED MEDICAL CARE OR OTHER STATE-OPERATED
 AGENCY OR FACILITY FOR PURPOSES OF ATTAINING  THE  BACCALAUREATE  DEGREE
 REQUIREMENTS  PRESCRIBED  BY  SECTION  SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FIVE OF
 THIS CHAPTER.
   § 8. This act shall take effect immediately and  shall  be  deemed  to
 have been in full force and effect on and after April 1, 2021.

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Senate Bill S6424

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Civil Service And Pensions Committee

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co-Sponsors

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Gustavo Rivera

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Civil Service And Pensions Committee

Actions

co-Sponsors

Robert Jackson

John W. Mannion

Julia Salazar

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S6424 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments