Bill Text: NY J00542 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing Human Services Workers as Essential Workers

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 21-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-23 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [J00542 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J00542-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 542

BY: Senator RAMOS

        RECOGNIZING  Human  Services  Workers as Essential
        Workers

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that
the quality and character of life in the  communities  across  New  York
State  are  reflective  of  the concerned and dedicated efforts of those
individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the  community
and its citizenry; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
recognize Human Services Workers as Essential Workers; and

  WHEREAS,  Nonprofit  human  services  workers  are on the frontlines
risking their lives during the global pandemic; and

  WHEREAS, Nonprofit human services organizations are critical to  the
health, safety, and overall well-being of New York's communities; and

  WHEREAS,  The  nonprofit  human  services workforce is predominately
made up of women (80 percent) and more than half are  people  of  color;
and

  WHEREAS,  Many  nonprofit  human services workers are well-educated,
with 41 percent having a four-year college degree and 25 percent  having
an associate degree or some college, but are still among the lowest paid
workers in New York; and

  WHEREAS,  The  nonprofit  sector  is  an  economic engine, employing
roughly 18 percent of New York State's workforce; and

  WHEREAS, Nonprofit human services workers: provide  early  childhood
education  and  after-school programs, run food pantries, provide mental
health counseling, shelter people experiencing  homelessness,  and  care
for the elderly, among many other vital community services to vulnerable
New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS,  These  vital  workers  have  always  been essential to the
people of the State of New York and have gone over and above during  the
COVID-19   crisis  to  ensure  our  communities  have  access  to  food,
technology,  shelter,  mental  health  services  and   countless   other
lifesaving programs; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, representing all New Yorkers, stands
with  nonprofit  human  services  workers  and  will continue to work to
ensure fair wages on State contracts and adequate human services funding
for our communities; and

  WHEREAS, Actions such as these would improve  New  York's  recovery,
particularly  in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 due
to structural racism, ableism, and income  inequality,  with  Black  and
Brown New Yorkers suffering profound harm now; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown  a
long  and  sustained  commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize Human Services Workers as Essential Workers; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Human Services Council of New York.