State Senator Christopher J. Ryan (SD-50) announced his bill, S.5254 was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on September 6, 2025. The bill ensures that public sector employees participating in mandatory workplace violence inspections, risk evaluation and determination inspections, or annual program reviews are entitled to do so without a loss of wages. S.5254 passed the Senate unanimously and was carried in the Assembly (A.6612) by Assemblyman Harry Bronson (AD-138) who chairs the Assembly Labor Committee. 

“As a former labor leader and lifelong labor advocate, I am very proud that this bill was signed into law,” said Senator Ryan. “To withhold pay from workers while they are participating in investigations inadvertently penalizes workers while we’re trying to improve workplace safety. Protecting workers is a top priority of mine, and I will continue to protect labor rights throughout my time in Albany. I thank Assemblymember Bronson for carrying this bill in the Assembly, and to Governor Hochul for her continued dedication to workers’ rights.”

Assemblymember Bronson said, “As Assembly Labor Chair, safe workplaces are one of my highest priorities. This new law ensures workers can participate in workplace violence prevention activities without fear of retribution or lost pay. The legislation marks a win for workers and their right to safety, and I am proud to have worked with Senator Ryan and CSEA to pass this bill into law.”

Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Central Region President Kenny Greenleaf said, "Every worker deserves to feel safe on the job, including feeling safe to speak up about risks of workplace violence. This new law ensures that our members won’t have to choose between their safety and their paycheck. We thank Senator Ryan for his unwavering commitment to protecting workers and for making sure public employees can fully participate in workplace violence prevention programs without financial penalty. This is a win for safety, a win for fairness, and a win for the dignity of public service."

Section 27-B of Labor Law requires public employers to implement programs to prevent workplace violence, and until recently it was understood that employees would participate in these programs without a loss in pay. However, some employers have changed their understanding of 27-B and were requiring employees to charge accruals to participate in workplace violence prevention activities. This new law restricts employers from cutting employees’ wages during these mandatory programs.