Bill > S03953

This bill establishes a Human Services Employee Wage Board to investigate and address pay disparities in the human services sector. The wage board will be comprised of twelve members, including three human services employees, three human services providers, three coalition representatives, and three public members appointed by the commissioner of labor. The board is required to hold at least three public hearings, with provisions for language accessibility, including Spanish interpretation and accommodations for other languages and disabilities. The board will examine pay disparities between human services employees and government or private sector workers, considering factors such as fringe benefits, wages relative to poverty guidelines, and cost of living. The board must submit a report with recommendations to the governor and legislature by December 31, 2025. The bill highlights the significant workforce demographics of the human services sector, noting that it is predominantly female (66%) and primarily workers of color (68%), with many workers having college degrees but earning substantially less than comparable public sector employees. The primary goal is to investigate and develop recommendations for more equitable wages for human services workers, recognizing their essential role in addressing social challenges and the systemic underfunding of their sector.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S3953