Bill > A07702

This bill modifies existing labor law to provide additional protections and regulations for nurses' work hours, focusing on restrictions on mandatory overtime. Specifically, the bill clarifies circumstances where nurses can be required to work beyond their regular hours, such as during health care disasters, declared emergencies, or genuine patient care emergencies. The bill introduces new civil penalty provisions, with employers facing escalating fines ($1,000 for first violation, up to $5,000 for subsequent violations) for requiring nurses to work overtime, and mandating that employees receive an additional 15% of overtime pay for each violation. The legislation also requires healthcare employers to make good faith efforts to cover overtime voluntarily, such as calling per diem or agency nurses, before mandating additional hours. Additionally, employers must now report extended overtime usage to state departments, with detailed reporting requirements if mandatory overtime is used for 15 days or more in a month, or 45 days in a three-month period. The bill establishes an enforcement officer to investigate complaints and emphasizes that these provisions are intended to protect public health and patient care quality while preserving nurses' existing rights under other laws and agreements.

Labor and Employment

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7702