Page 9 - Work Force July-August 2025

CSEA fights for
legislation to protect
caseworkers
PEEKSKILL — Our union has
been fiercely advocating for legislative changes that would
help caseworkers stay safer when they’re working in our communities, especially in light of last year’s murder of CSEA Westchester County Unit member Maria Coto.
Coto, a senior social caseworker in the county Department of Social Services Child Protective Services Unit, was brutally attacked in May 2024 when she knocked on the wrong door during a field visit. She died from her injuries a month later.
Working with CSEA as legislative partners, state Sen. Pete Harckham and Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg have introduced legislation to improve safety for caseworkers. The most pressing piece of legislation called for
caseworkers to be provided an emergency panic button, which is available via a few different pieces of technology when working in the community.
While the legislation didn’t make it across the finish line during the most recent legislative session, our union will continue advocating for its passage when lawmakers return to Albany.
In May, Harckham and Levenberg hosted a news conference covered by CBS 2 and News 12, among
other media outlets, where CSEA leaders and Coto’s co-workers spoke. Westchester County Local President Hattie Adams noted that New York state has the opportunity to be a leader by passing this safety legislation.
CSEA member Christine Leoce,
Westchester County Local President Hattie Adams, second from left, speaks with local media. To Adams’ left is Gerardo Guiterrez, Maria Coto’s uncle. Right of Adams is Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg; Maria Coto’s aunt Maria Gutierrez and State Sen. Pete Harckham. Behind them are Coto’s Department of Social Services colleagues.
Coto’s supervisor and friend, recounted the heart wrenching experience of receiving notification from authorities of the attack on Coto and the subsequent weeks until
she passed away. Coto’s aunt, Maria Gutierrez, urged lawmakers to make passing this legislation a top priority.
— Jessica Ladlee
Big wins for CSEA in the 2025 state Legislative Session
ALBANY — The 2025 New York State Legislative Session officially adjourned on June 18, 2025.
This session delivered important victories for our union. We led
the charge to regulate how artificial intelligence (AI) is used
by local governments, school districts and SUNY, ensuring workers aren’t replaced by these new technologies. We were also successful in getting bills done to improve recruitment and retention in the public sector, improve conditions for home-based child care providers and much more.
Here is a short summary of key legislation passed by both the state Assembly and state Senate. These bills still need to be signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul to take effect. For more information on these bills and others, visit cseany.org/issues.
Regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Public Sector
S.7599 (Gonzalez) / A.8295 (Otis)
This bill builds upon last year’s legislative success, the LOADing Act, which protected employees
of state agencies and public authorities from displacement
due to AI. This bill expands these protections to local governments, school districts, and SUNY and provides transparency by requiring employers to report their use of AI systems.
Operational Safety Plans for State Parks Employees
S.7680 (Serrano) / A.6634 (Kim)
This legislation requires the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation to develop operational safety plans prior to sending employees into hazardous
conditions. CSEA took action after the tragic death of Palisades Park Commission Local member Daniel Vasquez, who died responding to
a wildfire in Sterling Forest State Park in November 2024. Now, before parks employees are deployed into severe weather, wildfires, or other dangerous situations, the state must fully assess the hazards and ensure that all staff assigned are properly trained, equipped, and supported for all the roles that they are expected to perform.
Aligning Staffing Requirements for Home-Based Child Care Providers
S.4929 (Brouk) / A.4003 (Clark)
This bill aligns infant supervision standards for home-based child care providers, many of whom
are represented by CSEA, with the
standards for child care centers. This will reduce the burden of excessive staffing requirements on home-based providers and will improve access to infant care across the state.
Providing Appointment Letters to Public Employees
S.5760 (Jackson) / A.6624 (Pheffer Amato)
This legislation requires that when a public employer offers someone a job or promotion, they must provide specific information about the position, including terms of employment, salary, and benefits. This is a common-sense measure that ensures that current and prospective employees have access to all of the information they need
to make an informed decision about their employment.
July-August 2025
The Work Force 9