New York Assembly Bill A08031

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/22/25
• Refer: 4/22/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Requires the commissioner of labor, in consultation with the commissioner of agriculture and markets, commissioner of health and the commissioner of environmental conservation, to develop instructional tools and materials for occupations at high-risk of tick exposures; requires such materials to provide information on the identification of ticks and tick removal, and protection from tick bites; requires such materials to be available to high-risk employers and employees at no charge.

Summary

A08031 would amend the Labor Law to require the Commissioner of Labor, working with the Commissioners of Health and Environmental Conservation, to develop instructional tools and materials for workers in occupations with high risk of occupational tick exposure. The bill specifically identifies agriculture, landscaping, forestry, first responders, road crews, and utility crews as examples of covered groups. The materials must explain how to identify ticks, how to prevent tick bites, and how to safely remove ticks. The bill also contemplates practical educational formats such as videos, pamphlets, and demonstration programs, including materials that show ticks before and after engorgement and illustrate skin reactions across a variety of skin tones. These resources would be made available free of charge to high-risk employers and employees and reviewed and updated annually.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would add a new duty to Section 21 of the Labor Law requiring the Department of Labor to create and maintain tick-exposure educational materials in coordination with other state agencies. It would not create a new enforcement regime or penalty structure, but it would expand state workplace safety outreach for industries and workers most likely to encounter ticks and tick-borne illness, including Lyme disease. The bill also ties into the existing education and awareness program under Agriculture and Markets Law section 16-b.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be a public-health and worker-safety initiative with a generally protective and preventive purpose. Its framing suggests broad support for education, especially for outdoor workers and emergency-response personnel who face elevated tick exposure. No formal opposition or recorded controversy is available in the provided materials.

Contention

The bill’s main policy choices are the scope of covered occupations, the level of detail required in the educational materials, and the administrative burden on the Department of Labor and partner agencies. Potential points of discussion include whether the materials should be limited to certain industries or extended more broadly, how the state should ensure accessibility across different skin tones and languages, and whether annual updates and free distribution impose meaningful costs. No specific opposing viewpoints are recorded in the provided context.