Bill > A07191

This bill amends the New York Civil Service Law to establish distinct procedures for appointing hearing officers and handling disciplinary actions for public employees, with separate provisions for New York City employees and employees in other jurisdictions. The bill creates a new process for selecting independent hearing officers when disciplinary charges are brought against public employees, specifying that for non-New York City employees, the hearing officer will be mutually selected or chosen by alternately striking names from a list provided by the Public Employment Relations Board. For employees not in New York City, the bill mandates that suspension during the disciplinary process will be with pay, and provides detailed guidelines for the hearing process, including the right to representation, the ability to summon witnesses, and the burden of proving misconduct. The bill ensures that employees are notified of their rights in advance, afforded a reasonable time to obtain representation, and protected from having statements obtained during questioning excluded if proper representation procedures are not followed. Additionally, the bill allows hearing officers to allocate costs between parties based on the frivolous nature of claims or defenses, and provides specific provisions for how disciplinary hearings should be conducted, documented, and reviewed.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7191