New York Assembly Bill A04850

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/25
• Refer: 2/6/25
• Report Pass: 3/25/25
• Engrossed: 4/30/25
• Refer: 4/30/25
• Engrossed: 3/18/26
• Refer: 3/18/26

Caption

Enacts the "New York state teleworking expansion act"; provides that each state agency shall establish a policy and program to allow employees to perform all or a portion of their duties through teleworking to the maximum extent possible without diminished employee performance.

Summary

A04850 would enact the “New York state teleworking expansion act” and require each state agency to create a policy and program allowing employees to work remotely for all or part of their duties to the maximum extent possible, so long as employee performance is not diminished. The bill also requires each agency to designate a telework coordinator to oversee implementation of the program. The measure defines “telework” as performing regular work functions from a location other than the agency’s principal office, reducing or eliminating the commute. It applies broadly to state agencies, including departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, public authorities, public benefit corporations, councils, offices, and similar governmental entities. For employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the bill prohibits an agency from adopting a telework policy unless it is mutually agreed to with the relevant employee organization under the state’s labor relations framework.

Impact

The bill would amend the New York Civil Service Law by adding a new section 13 governing teleworking programs for state agencies. It would create a statewide mandate for telework policies, require administrative oversight through telework coordinators, and preserve collective bargaining rights by making telework terms for unionized employees subject to mutual agreement. The bill would affect state agencies and their employees, especially those whose duties can be performed remotely, while leaving implementation details to agency policies and labor negotiations.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. It passed the Assembly Governmental Employees Committee by an 8-4 vote and later passed the Assembly floor by a wide margin of 124-21, indicating substantial support for expanding telework in state government. The absence of recorded transcript discussion limits insight into detailed arguments, but the vote totals show that the proposal was broadly accepted while still drawing meaningful opposition.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to be whether telework should be mandated across state agencies and how far that mandate should extend. Opponents likely raised concerns about agency discretion, operational effectiveness, supervision, and whether telework can be implemented without affecting performance, while supporters emphasized flexibility, commuting reduction, and modernization of state employment practices. A second area of sensitivity is labor relations: the bill explicitly requires mutual agreement for employees covered by collective bargaining agreements, reflecting the need to balance telework expansion with union bargaining rights.