S 1253: Creates a temporary commission to conduct a comprehensive study on the current utilization of paid family leave, make recommendations on how to increase access and the visibility of the program.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1253 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor AN ACT in relation to creating a temporary commission to conduct a comprehensive study on the current utilization of paid family leave, make recommendations on how to increase access and the visibility of the program; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. A temporary state commission is hereby created to conduct a 2 comprehensive study, and prepare a report on the current utilization of 3 paid family leave under article 9 of the workers' compensation law. 4 § 2. (a) The commission shall consist of twelve members appointed by 5 the governor as follows: (i) a representative of organized labor 6 appointed upon recommendation of the New York State American Federation 7 of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; (ii) a representative of 8 the business community appointed upon recommendation of the Business 9 Council of New York State, Incorporated; (iii) two persons upon recom- 10 mendation of the temporary president of the senate; (iv) one person 11 upon recommendation of the minority leader of the senate; (v) two 12 persons upon recommendation of the speaker of the assembly; (vi) one 13 person upon recommendation of the minority leader of the assembly; (vii) 14 the commissioner of labor; (viii) the superintendent of financial 15 services; (ix) the chair of the workers' compensation board; and (x) one 16 other person in the governor's discretion. The chair of the workers' 17 compensation board shall serve as the chair of the commission. Vacancies 18 in the membership of the commission and among its officers shall be 19 filled in the manner provided for original appointments. 20 (b) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for 21 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses 22 incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD03078-01-5 
 S. 1253 2 1 § 3. The study shall examine the current utilization of paid family 2 leave under article 9 of the workers' compensation law, including but 3 not limited to: 4 (a) demographic information of persons receiving such benefits includ- 5 ing but not limited to: 6 (i) gender; 7 (ii) race; 8 (iii) age; 9 (iv) geographic region of the state of New York; and 10 (v) industry or type of employment; 11 (b) the average amount of benefits received and length of leave taken; 12 (c) the type of leave taken; 13 (d) employers' experiences on the use of paid family leave, including: 14 (i) ease of use; and 15 (ii) responsiveness of the department to questions; and 16 (e) unintended barriers that employees face in utilizing paid family 17 leave including but not limited to: 18 (i) understanding of benefits; 19 (ii) knowledge of eligibility; and 20 (iii) knowledge of the existence of paid family leave. 21 § 4. Not later than one year after the effective date of this act, the 22 commission shall prepare and submit to the governor, the temporary pres- 23 ident of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly a report of the 24 study's findings, together with specific recommendations for increasing 25 the access of demographic groups underutilizing paid family leave bene- 26 fits, and removing or lessening unintended barriers to use of paid fami- 27 ly leave identified in the study. 28 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be 29 deemed repealed two years after it shall have become a law.