Bill > A00973

This bill creates an Emergency Financial Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to federal employees or federal contractor employees who are New York state residents and are required to work without pay or placed on unpaid leave during a government shutdown, as well as to non-profit organizations licensed in New York with federal service contracts. The fund will be established in the custody of the state comptroller, tax commissioner, and labor commissioner, and will be funded through voluntary taxpayer contributions and state matching funds. Taxpayers can elect to contribute to the fund when filing their income tax returns, with contributions not reducing their tax liability. The New York State Department of Labor will administer the fund, developing eligibility rules for "qualified persons" which include federal workers and non-profit organizations affected by a government appropriations lapse beginning on or after December 22, 2024. The department must provide an annual public report detailing fund usage, including the amount dispersed, recipients, award amounts, and purposes. The fund can only be used to compensate qualified individuals and organizations, with money distributed through comptroller-approved vouchers from the labor department. This bill aims to provide financial relief during potential future government shutdowns.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A973