Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

December 20, 2024

What’s Inside

  • Governor Signs Legislation to Protect Students and Teachers from Extreme Heat
  • Senate Republican Leader Re-Elected
  • Governor Reminds New Yorkers of Minimum Wage Increase
  • NYSDOL Announces Workforce Development Grant Opportunity
  • NYS Private Sector Employment Update
  • In the News
  • Coming Up

Governor Signs Legislation to Protect Students and Teachers from Extreme Heat

Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to require that all school districts develop plans to mitigate extreme heat in classrooms and support services spaces and to establish a maximum allowable temperature to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. The legislation was sponsored by Senator James Skoufis and Assemblymember Chris Eachus.

By setting guidelines for extreme heat conditions, the bill aims to help schools ensure their spaces are conducive to student learning, reduce unnecessary disruptions, and provide for the health and safety of all those in their buildings. The Property Maintenance Code of New York State currently requires a minimum temperature of 65 degrees in all workspaces in buildings across the state.

An overview of the legislation is provided below.

  • S3397-A/A9011-A – Establishes 88 degrees as the maximum temperature in classrooms and support services spaces. It requires a plan for the removal of students and staff from these spaces where it is practical for the school district to do so. It also creates a definition of extreme heat condition days as well as a standard to measure room temperature. In addition to the above, school districts will be required to take action to relieve heat-related discomfort when classroom temperatures reach 82 degrees. Such actions can include turning off overhead lights, pulling down shades or blinds, turning on fans, opening classroom doors and windows, turning off electronics, and providing water breaks.

Governor Hochul said:

Extreme heat can significantly impact a student’s concentration, focus and ability to learn. With this new law, we are continuing to make the health and safety of our kids and educators a top priority and ensuring that every New York student has access to the safe and comfortable learning environment they deserve. 

Senate Republican Leader Re-Elected

New York State Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt has been re-elected as Leader of the Senate Republican Conference. Senator Ortt has served as the Leader of the Senate Republican Conference since June of 2020. Following his re-election, the Senator issued the following statement:

I am incredibly honored to once again earn the support of my colleagues in the Senate Republican Conference to serve as Minority Leader. As we approach the New Year and a new legislative session, we are energized and ready to confront the challenges created by Albany’s failed one-party rule. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make New York a more affordable, safer, and healthier state for hardworking families. Again, I thank my colleagues – and the millions of New Yorkers they represent – for their continued trust in my leadership of this Conference.

Governor Reminds New Yorkers of Minimum Wage Increase

This week, Governor Hochul issued a press release as a reminder that New Yorkers earning minimum wage will earn an additional $0.50 per hour, beginning January 1, 2025. New York’s minimum wage will increase to $16.50-per-hour in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, and $15.50-per-hour for the rest of the state. This adjustment is part of New York’s multiyear agreement between Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to index the minimum wage to inflation.

The minimum wage is scheduled to increase by another $0.50 in 2026 and then increase annually starting in 2027 at a rate determined by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region – the most accurate regional measure of inflation, according to the Governor’s office.

Governor Hochul said:

Putting money back in your pockets has been the focus of my first three Budgets, and that includes increasing minimum wage for the lowest earners across the state. With rising costs of living, this increase will help to lighten the burdens of inflation for New Yorkers while providing businesses with the time needed to adjust.

NYSDOL Announces Workforce Development Grant Opportunity

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has introduced a $5 million grant for workforce development in clean energy. This funding, secured by Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), aims to create or enhance training programs across the state, supporting New York’s green economy.

The Office of Just Energy Transition (OJET) will use this grant to fund training, retraining, and apprenticeship programs that prepare workers for jobs in renewable energy. The supported projects will focus on areas such as electric vehicle maintenance, building electrification, and other energy-intensive industries.

NYSDOL will connect historically underrepresented individuals, including those within disadvantaged communities (DACs) to:

  • High-quality green jobs through clean energy training/upskilling
  • Pre-apprenticeships 
  • Wraparound services

More information can be found here.

NYS Private Sector Employment Update

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has issued preliminary seasonally adjusted figures, and according to those figures, the number of private sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 11,900, or 0.1%, to 8,409,100 in November 2024. The number of private sector jobs in the U.S. increased by 0.1% in November 2024 as well.

New York State’s private sector jobs (not seasonally adjusted) increased by 123,000, or 1.5%, over the year in November 2024, which was greater than the 1.3% increase in the number of private sector jobs in the U.S.

New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held constant at 4.4% in November 2024. At the same time, New York State’s labor force (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 5,100. The statewide labor force participation rate held constant at 61.2% in November 2024.

More information can be found in the Department’s press release here.

In The News

City & State NY’s weekly Winners and Losers of this week here.

Insiders say fraud in NY computer programming work dates back years.

Cannabis stakeholders seek tax changes as they struggle.

Hochul may face a challenger she knows well: her Lieutenant Governor.

Increasing access to New York’s health insurance marketplace.

Airport board doesn’t expect to hire permanent CEO until 2026.

Report: 90% of upstate hospital shifts are understaffed.

Hochul vetoes bill to slow hospital closures, require public input.

Rising costs from climate change is driving insurers out of New York.

Mayor Adams presses Gov. Hochul face-to-face on involuntary removals of mentally ill in NYC.

Cuomo intends to sue alleged harassment victim Charlotte Bennett for defamation.

Federal budget bill would plug gaps in World Trade health program.

Hochul weighs legislation limiting A.I. and more than 100 other bills.

FAA bans drone use over ‘critical infrastructure’ sites in NYC: ‘Action is purely precautionary’.

Mayoral hopeful Jessica Ramos had 50% of her latest matching-funds claims denied.

Civic groups want permanent video conferencing law for New York lawmakers.

New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa discusses new education pathways.

Daniel’s Law Task Force issues recommendations to improve response to behavioral health calls.

Hochul signs bill aimed to crack down on ‘black market’ for restaurant reservations.

Medicare telehealth faces expiration, likely affection seniors.

Coming Up

The NYS Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on January 13 and 14.

The Public Service Commission will hold its next meeting on January 23.