New York Senate Bill S06548

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/17/25
• Refer: 3/17/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Relates to providing minimum standards governing maternity policy for institutions employing police officers and correctional officers including uniform and/or equipment modifications, exemption from firearm qualification requirements, and ensuring there is no discrimination or poor treatment of pregnant individuals.

Summary

This bill would add a new section to the Executive Law requiring any state or municipal employer of police officers or correctional officers to adopt or revise maternity leave policies to meet specified minimum standards. The policy must prohibit discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, and must treat pregnant officers the same as temporarily disabled officers during pregnancy. The bill also requires employers to create procedures for modifying full-duty assignments and providing temporary light-duty work when medically indicated and consistent with operational needs. In addition, pregnant officers would be exempt from firearms qualification requirements during pregnancy, and employers would have to make all practicable uniform and equipment modifications as needed. The bill would take effect 60 days after becoming law.

Impact

The bill would amend the Executive Law by creating a new statewide standard for maternity policies covering police officers and correctional officers employed by the state or municipalities. It would affect public safety agencies and correctional institutions by requiring them to update personnel policies, assignment practices, qualification rules, and equipment accommodations for pregnant officers. The measure does not create a new benefit program, but it does impose mandatory workplace accommodation and nondiscrimination requirements on covered employers.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the bill appears to be framed as a protective workplace rights measure for pregnant law enforcement and correctional personnel. The caption emphasizes minimum standards, nondiscrimination, and accommodations, suggesting a generally supportive intent toward ensuring fair treatment and workplace safety. No committee transcripts or votes were provided, so there is no recorded evidence here of formal support or opposition from legislators.

Contention

The main areas of potential contention are likely to be operational and administrative rather than ideological: whether agencies can provide light-duty assignments consistent with staffing and security needs, how broadly the firearms qualification exemption should apply, and what counts as a practicable uniform or equipment modification. Employers may be concerned about implementation costs, staffing flexibility, and maintaining readiness, while supporters would likely focus on pregnancy nondiscrimination, officer health, and equal treatment during temporary disability.