S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9082
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                            September 12, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. REYES -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Labor
 
 AN ACT to amend the labor law, in  relation  to  wage  requirements  for
   certain support professionals
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new section  224-g  to
 read as follows:
   §  224-G.  WAGE  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  CERTAIN  SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS. 1.
 DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL
 HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "HUMAN SERVICES  WORKER"  SHALL  MEAN  ANY  EMPLOYEE  THAT  EITHER
 PROVIDES DIRECT CARE, SUPPORT, OR TREATMENT TO AN INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPAT-
 ING  IN  AN  ELIGIBLE PROGRAM AND SERVICES AS DEFINED IN THIS SECTION OR
 ANY EMPLOYEE WHO MAY NOT PROVIDE DIRECT CARE TO AN INDIVIDUAL BUT  WHOSE
 JOB  TITLE  GOALS  ARE TO HELP IMPROVE OR ENHANCE AN INDIVIDUAL'S HEALTH
 AND/OR WELFARE BY ADDRESSING SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND WHO ARE NOT MAKING  THE
 BASE  WAGE  AS  ESTABLISHED  IN  THIS SECTION. SUCH DEFINITION SHALL NOT
 INCLUDE EXECUTIVE PROFESSIONALS.
   (B) "ELIGIBLE PROGRAM" MEANS ANY STATE-FUNDED PROGRAM OR SERVICE  THAT
 IS  PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
 IMPROVING OR ENHANCING  SUCH  INDIVIDUALS'  HEALTH  AND/OR  WELFARE,  BY
 ADDRESSING  SOCIAL  PROBLEMS  THAT ARE FUNDED, LICENSED, OR CERTIFIED BY
 THE OFFICES, IF SUCH PROGRAM OR SERVICE IS PROVIDED  TO  INDIVIDUALS  OR
 GROUPS  OF  INDIVIDUALS,  FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING OR ENHANCING SUCH
 INDIVIDUALS' HEALTH AND/OR WELFARE, BY ADDRESSING SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
   (C) "DOWNSTATE REGION" MEANS THE REGION CONSISTING  OF  BRONX,  KINGS,
 NEW YORK, NASSAU, QUEENS, RICHMOND, SUFFOLK, AND WESTCHESTER COUNTIES.
   (D)  "REST  OF  THE  STATE"  MEANS ALL OTHER COUNTIES OF THE STATE NOT
 INCLUDED IN DOWNSTATE REGION.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09634-03-5
 A. 9082                             2
              

 
   (E) "OFFICES" MEANS THE OFFICE OF MENTAL  HEALTH,  OFFICE  FOR  PEOPLE
 WITH  DEVELOPMENTAL  DISABILITIES,  OFFICE  OF  ADDICTION  SERVICES  AND
 SUPPORTS, OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE, OFFICE OF CHIL-
 DREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING, THE DEPARTMENT
 OF  EDUCATION,  THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE OFFICE OF VICTIM SERVICES,
 AND ANY OTHER STATE AGENCY THAT MAY  HAVE  ELIGIBLE  PROGRAMS,  IF  SUCH
 PROGRAM  OR SERVICE IS PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS,
 FOR THE PURPOSE OF  IMPROVING  OR  ENHANCING  SUCH  INDIVIDUALS'  HEALTH
 AND/OR WELFARE, BY ADDRESSING SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
   (F)  "SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICT" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED
 BY SECTION TWO OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW.
   2. HUMAN SERVICES WORKER WAGES. (A) THE PROVISIONS OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH
 SHALL  APPLY TO THE DOWNSTATE REGION. BEGINNING APRIL TWO THOUSAND TWEN-
 TY-SIX, FOR THE DOWNSTATE REGION, AND  PENDING  FEDERAL  APPROVAL  WHERE
 NECESSARY,  THE  COMMISSIONERS  OR  OTHER  CHIEF OFFICERS OF THE OFFICES
 SHALL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR ANY CONTRACTS BETWEEN SUCH  OFFICES
 AND  NOT-FOR-PROFIT  ORGANIZATIONS  AND  ANY ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS FUNDED BY
 ALLOCATIONS OR REIMBURSEMENTS  FROM  SUCH  OFFICES  TO  SOCIAL  SERVICES
 DISTRICTS  TO  PROVIDE A BASE WAGE TO HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS EMPLOYED IN
 ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS,  AND  TO  HUMAN  SERVICES  WORKERS  EMPLOYED  BY  ANY
 CONTRACTORS OR SUBCONTRACTORS WORKING IN ANY ELIGIBLE PROGRAM, TO ENSURE
 SUCH  HUMAN  SERVICES WORKERS ARE PAID A BASE WAGE. SUCH BASE WAGE SHALL
 BE TWENTY-NINE DOLLARS PER HOUR FOR THE DOWNSTATE REGION  AND  SHALL  BE
 PHASED IN SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE:
   (I)  BEGINNING  APRIL  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX, THE BASE WAGE
 SHALL BE TWENTY DOLLARS PER HOUR;
   (II) BEGINNING APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SEVEN, THE  BASE  WAGE
 SHALL BE TWENTY-FOUR DOLLARS PER HOUR;
   (III)  BEGINNING APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT, THE BASE WAGE
 SHALL BE TWENTY-SIX DOLLARS PER HOUR; AND
   (IV) BEGINNING APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-NINE,  THE  BASE  WAGE
 SHALL  BE  TWENTY-NINE  DOLLARS  PER HOUR OR FOUR HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE
 FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
   (B) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL APPLY TO THE  REST  OF  THE
 STATE.  BEGINNING  APRIL  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-SIX, AND PENDING
 FEDERAL APPROVAL WHERE NECESSARY, THE COMMISSIONERS OR OTHER CHIEF OFFI-
 CERS OF THE OFFICES, SHALL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR ANY  CONTRACTS
 BETWEEN  SUCH  OFFICES AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND ANY ELIGIBLE
 PROGRAMS FUNDED BY ALLOCATIONS OR REIMBURSEMENTS FROM  SUCH  OFFICES  TO
 SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE A BASE WAGE TO HUMAN SERVICES WORK-
 ERS  EMPLOYED  IN  ELIGIBLE  PROGRAMS,  AND  TO  HUMAN  SERVICES WORKERS
 EMPLOYED BY ANY CONTRACTORS OR SUBCONTRACTORS WORKING  IN  ANY  ELIGIBLE
 PROGRAM,  TO  ENSURE  SUCH  HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS ARE PAID A BASE WAGE.
 SUCH BASE WAGE SHALL BE TWENTY-NINE DOLLARS PER HOUR  FOR  THE  REST  OF
 STATE AND SHALL BE PHASED IN SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE:
   (I)  BEGINNING  APRIL  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX, THE BASE WAGE
 SHALL BE NINETEEN DOLLARS PER HOUR;
   (II) BEGINNING APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SEVEN, THE  BASE  WAGE
 SHALL BE TWENTY-ONE DOLLARS PER HOUR;
   (III)  BEGINNING APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT, THE BASE WAGE
 SHALL BE TWENTY-THREE DOLLARS PER HOUR;
   (IV) BEGINNING APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-NINE,  THE  BASE  WAGE
 SHALL BE TWENTY-SIX DOLLARS PER HOUR; AND
   (V) BEGINNING APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIRTY, THE BASE WAGE SHALL BE
 TWENTY-NINE  DOLLARS  PER  HOUR  OR  FOUR HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL
 POVERTY LEVEL, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
 A. 9082                             3
 
   (C)  ANNUAL  HUMAN  SERVICES  WORKER  BASE  WAGE  INCREASE.  (I)   THE
 PROVISIONS  OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL APPLY TO THE DOWNSTATE REGION. ON
 AND AFTER APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIRTY, THE BASE WAGE  RATE  APPLIED
 UNDER  PARAGRAPH  (A)  OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE ADJUSTED ANNUALLY BY
 THE  OFFICES.  SUCH  ADJUSTED  BASE  WAGE  RATE  SHALL  BE DETERMINED BY
 INCREASING THE THEN CURRENT YEAR'S BASE WAGE RATE BY THE RATE OF  CHANGE
 IN THE AVERAGE OF THE THREE MOST RECENT CONSECUTIVE TWELVE-MONTH PERIODS
 BETWEEN  THE  FIRST  OF  AUGUST  AND THE THIRTY-FIRST OF JULY, EACH OVER
 THEIR PRECEDING TWELVE-MONTH PERIODS  PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES
 DEPARTMENT  OF  LABOR  NON-SEASONALLY  ADJUSTED CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR
 NORTHEAST REGION URBAN WAGE EARNERS AND CLERICAL WORKERS (CPI-W) OR  ANY
 SUCCESSOR  INDEX AS CALCULATED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
 WITH THE RESULT ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST FIVE CENTS.
   (II) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL APPLY TO  THE  REST  OF
 THE  STATE.  ON AND AFTER APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIRTY-ONE, THE BASE
 WAGE RATE APPLIED UNDER PARAGRAPH  (B)  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION  SHALL  BE
 ADJUSTED  ANNUALLY BY THE OFFICES. SUCH ADJUSTED BASE WAGE RATE SHALL BE
 DETERMINED BY INCREASING THE THEN CURRENT YEAR'S BASE WAGE RATE  BY  THE
 RATE  OF  CHANGE  IN  THE  AVERAGE  OF THE THREE MOST RECENT CONSECUTIVE
 TWELVE-MONTH PERIODS BETWEEN THE FIRST OF AUGUST AND THE THIRTY-FIRST OF
 JULY, EACH OVER THEIR PRECEDING TWELVE-MONTH PERIODS  PUBLISHED  BY  THE
 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR NON-SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CONSUMER PRICE
 INDEX  FOR  NORTHEAST  REGION  URBAN  WAGE  EARNERS AND CLERICAL WORKERS
 (CPI-W) OR ANY SUCCESSOR  INDEX  AS  CALCULATED  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES
 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WITH THE RESULT ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST FIVE CENTS.
   3.  ELIGIBLE  EMPLOYEE LIST. THE COMMISSIONERS OR OTHER CHIEF OFFICERS
 OF THE OFFICES, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIVISION OF THE  BUDGET,  SHALL
 ESTABLISH  A  LIST OF ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE TITLES FOR BASE WAGES IN ACCORD-
 ANCE WITH SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.  USING  FORMS  AND  PROCESSES
 THAT  SHALL BE DEVELOPED BY THE COMMISSIONERS OR OTHER CHIEF OFFICERS OF
 THE OFFICES, EMPLOYERS SHALL INDICATE THE NUMBER OF  ELIGIBLE  EMPLOYEES
 BASED ON SUCH LIST OF ELIGIBLE TITLES.
   4.  ALLOCATIONS.  THE  COMMISSIONERS  OR  OTHER  CHIEF OFFICERS OF THE
 OFFICES SHALL DISTRIBUTE AN ALLOCATION TO EACH ELIGIBLE  PROVIDER  BASED
 ON  THE  FORMS  DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION.
 THE FUNDS DISTRIBUTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE USED TO  ENHANCE
 BASE WAGES OF ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES.
   5.  REIMBURSEMENT.  WHERE  APPROPRIATE, TRANSFERS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
 HEALTH SHALL BE MADE AS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE  STATE  SHARE  OF  MEDICAL
 ASSISTANCE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.