BILL NUMBER: S6265

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to eligibility for unemploy-
ment benefits for certain New York city emergency medical services
personnel under quarantine for coronavirus (COVID-19)

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to allow anyone employed as an emergency
medical technician (EMT) or paramedic in New York City's 911 system that
was required to quarantine as a result of COVID-19 is not deprived of
benefits as a result of their quarantine.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new subdivision 2-a to Section 591 of the Labor Law to
provide that anyone who is employed as an EMT or paramedic in New York
City's 911 system that was required to quarantine as a result of COVID-
19 is not deprived of benefits as a result of their quarantine.
              

Section 2 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

EMTs and Paramedics have worked on the front lines of our fight against
the COVID-19 virus for several years now. The work is dangerous and
debilitating, and we are not taking care of those who suffer unemploy-
ment because of their work on the front lines. In the earliest days of
the pandemic, this workforce was devastated by the virus; at one point
in time more than 25% of the force was out of work with the virus.

Many of these workers have been unable to report to work because of
their illness, or because of the need to quarantine because of their
exposure for substantial periods of time. Yet, they have been unable to
obtain unemployment benefits. This bill would entitle these important
public servants to receive unemployment benefits after being out the
customary waiting period, and ensure that they would not be denied bene-
fits for reasons like "unavailability." This bill is the least we can do
to protect this vital workforce.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.