By SHERRY HALBROOK
Recently, Gov. David Paterson signed six more PEF-supported bills into law. He
vetoed three others.
Topping the list of signed bills are one restricting mandatory overtime for
nurses (See related article), a bill making permanent agency-fee provisions of
the state Taylor Law, and a bill that enhances eligibility of public employees
for benefits under the World Trade Center Disability Law.
Other bills he signed include:
• S.1608/A.1206A – This requires a registered nurse, qualified in operating room
nursing, shall be present in the OR as the “circulating nurse” (responsible for
the patient’s safety) for the duration of the procedure. This law takes effect
October 6;
• S7792/A10381 – This provides members of the U.S. armed forces and reserves
with the opportunity to take a special “make-up” civil service exam if they miss
taking or applying to take the regular exam because of military service. This
law takes effect immediately; and
• S.7791/A.10486 – This increases employment opportunities for veterans with
disabilities. This bill takes effect immediately.
Vetoed by the governor were:
• S.6652/A.9892 which would have required the state to assign the least senior
employee in the job title when an employee is to be involuntarily moved to a
work location in a non-contiguous county;
• S.6533A/A.9511A which would have required school committees on special
education to provide information to the parents of blind and deaf children about
the services offered by the state schools for the blind and for the deaf; and
• S.6778/A.10553 which would have extended the maximum leave from 12 to 18
months for state employees injured on the job.
Finally, a Mandatory Overtime Law
At last.
After a decade of lobbying lawmakers, gathering statistics to prove a point, and
praying that something would change to improve patient safety, it has.
Gov. David Paterson signed the mandatory overtime bill into law August 13. And
PEF leaders were relieved the battle to get this law on the books is history.
“The governor came through with his promise to sign the bill,” said PEF
President Ken Brynien. “New York has now joined the ranks of other enlightened
states that realize the caliber of care for a patient rises when a nurse or
other health care provider isn’t forced to work double or triple shifts.
“This action also will bring back more nurses to the work force. It is a
triumphant day for all of New York,” Brynien said.
“I was confident the governor would sign the bill once it got to his desk
because of his commitment,” said PEF Region 12 Coordinator Dee Dodson, chair of
the PEF Nurses’ Committee. I look forward to things changing, and I’m grateful
we have a governor who understands the need for this legislation.”
Hospitals and other health care facilities will have until July 1, 2009, to put
a plan together to stop mandatory overtime. The law does contain some exceptions
for certain emergency situations.
Brynien said credit should go to the sponsors of the bill, Sen. Thomas Morahan
and Assembly Member Aileen Gunther, who took the lead in working out the details
of the bill.
— Deborah A. Miles
