Sept. 5, 2024 — Gov. Kathy Hochul signed several bills supported by PEF at a ceremony in New York City on Sept. 4. The laws expand due process rights for state employees and improve upon the Civil Service system as New York works to fill thousands of vacant positions.
“On behalf of the 54,000 members of the New York State Public Employees Federation, we appreciate Governor Hochul’s support of these important bills,” said PEF President Wayne Spence. “They are critical as we work to address the continued staffing issues across state agencies.”
The laws enhancing due process rights include Section 72 reforms that will improve access to information used by employers when arguing a state employee is disabled and unable to continue in their job; and, create policy to notify public employees when an agency responds to a freedom of information law request for certain records.
The changes to the Civil Service system are aimed at improving recruitment efforts. They include legislation to provide a provisionally-appointed individual, who receives a permanent appointment to the same title, the ability to count all of their time spent as a provisional appointee, in such title, towards the qualifications required to take a promotional examination. In this case, once a promotion exam is held and a former provisional appointee takes the exam, they will be eligible for appointment from the eligible list generated. Another bill expands exam access by allowing applicants to test if they will meet the minimum age or education requirements within 12 months. And the final civil service-related bill requires that the state review and update exam questions no less than every five years.
“Governor Hochul has been a great partner in working toward common sense solutions that benefit taxpayers, the state, and its public employees,” President Spence said.
There are still hundreds more bills on the governor’s desk for consideration before the end of the year. If you’d like to help PEF’s lobbying efforts, visit the Political Action section of the website.