Bill > A05470

This bill establishes the Rapid Employment Assistance and Counseling Hub (REACH) program, which will create a mobile unit that travels to different locations to provide in-person unemployment insurance assistance. By January 2027, the New York State Department of Labor will dispatch this mobile unit to localities upon request from state legislators or local officials, operating from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for one to four days. The mobile unit will offer comprehensive unemployment insurance services, including addressing general program questions, helping residents assess their eligibility for benefits, providing guidance on filing claims, assisting with federal tax form interpretation, and troubleshooting specific claim issues. Any resident in the requested area can access these services, with no mandatory pre-registration. Legislators and officials are limited to 12 mobile unit requests per calendar year, and the program will be evaluated through a report to be submitted by January 2028, which will assess its effectiveness and recommend potential improvements or expansions. The bill aims to make unemployment insurance support more accessible and user-friendly by bringing direct assistance to local communities.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5470