Bill > S04973

This bill modifies the Workers' Compensation Law in New York to remove labor market attachment requirements for workers with permanent and temporary partial disabilities. Specifically, the bill eliminates the need for workers to demonstrate ongoing labor market attachment when seeking compensation for wage-earning capacity loss. Under the current law, workers were required to prove they were actively seeking work or had the potential to be employed; this bill removes that prerequisite. The legislation applies to cases where workers have suffered partial disabilities that reduce their ability to earn wages, allowing them to receive compensation based on the difference between their pre-injury average weekly wages and their current wage-earning capacity. The bill also specifies a graduated compensation schedule based on the percentage of wage-earning capacity loss, ranging from 225 weeks for minimal impairment (15% or less) to 525 weeks for severe impairment (greater than 95%). These changes aim to simplify the workers' compensation process and provide more straightforward support for injured workers, regardless of their current job-seeking activities.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4973