Future of No More 24' home healthcare bill uncertain as support within City Council continues to dwindle | amNewYork

"Two more New York City Council members withdrew their support this week for Intro. 303, the No More 24 bill that would ban 24-hour workdays for home healthcare workers, bringing the number of co-sponsors who have abandoned the bill up to five since April. Council Member Elsie Encarnacion (D-Bronx) pulled her support for the bill on Monday, while her colleague in the chamber, Ty Hankerson (D-Queens), formally withdrew his support on Tuesday evening."

"The legislative exodus stems from concerns about the language and financial realities of the bill in its current form. Intro. 303 wrestles with the needs of two vulnerable groups of New Yorkers: home health workers who are often low-income, immigrant women, and people who require round-the-clock healthcare, often the elderly or people with disabilities. Under a state law known as the 13-hour rule, employers are allowed to pay workers for only 13 of a 24-hour home health shift, with the other 11 hours accounting for rest and meal breaks, given that a certain number of hours are interrupted periods of rest."

"But opponents of the bill, such as The Legal Aid Society, argue that the bill, as currently constituted, puts those in care at risk. The group applauded Encarnacion and Hankerson for being the latest to pull their support. Their decision to withdraw support for the bill reflects a growing understanding that, as currently drafted, Intro. 303 could jeopardize access to essential home care services for older adults and New Yorkers with disabilities while failing to provide a workable solution for workers, The Legal Aid Society said in a statement."

"The bill's supporters said that failing to pass No More 24 enables wage theft, puts care workers at risk of deteriorating health, and leaves thousands of workers trapped in a cruel system that devalues their work. But opponents of the bill, such as The Legal Aid Society, argue that the bill, as currently constituted, puts those in care at risk."

Two New York City Council members withdrew support for Intro. 303, the No More 24 bill, reducing co-sponsors who left the measure to five since April. Elsie Encarnacion withdrew support on Monday, and Ty Hankerson withdrew support on Tuesday evening. The withdrawals were driven by concerns about the bill’s language and financial realities in its current form. Intro. 303 would ban 24-hour workdays for home healthcare workers, affecting low-income, immigrant women and people needing round-the-clock care, including older adults and people with disabilities. A state 13-hour rule limits pay to 13 hours of a 24-hour shift, with the remaining hours treated as interrupted rest and meal breaks. Supporters argue the bill prevents wage theft and protects workers’ health, while opponents, including The Legal Aid Society, warn the current version could jeopardize access to essential home care services without a workable solution for workers.

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