Bill > A01903

This bill amends the New York labor law to expand existing restrictions on consecutive hours of work for nurses to now include a broader category of health care workers. The bill defines "health care workers" as personnel employed by or contracted to work for health care employers who impact patient care, such as unlicensed assistive personnel, service and maintenance workers, clerical staff, and technical workers. The legislation prohibits health care employers from requiring these workers to work beyond their regularly scheduled hours, with some important exceptions. These exceptions include situations involving health care disasters, declared emergencies, genuine patient care emergencies that could not have been prudently planned for, and ongoing medical or surgical procedures where the worker's continued presence is necessary to ensure patient safety. The bill explicitly allows workers to voluntarily work overtime and emphasizes that these provisions are intended to protect public health and patient care quality without diminishing workers' existing rights under other laws, regulations, or collective bargaining agreements. The legislation will take effect 60 days after becoming law, and notably excludes doctors, interns, residents, facility management personnel, and correctional facility security personnel from the definition of health care workers.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1903