Mayor Adams Signs Legislation to Improve Health Insurance Enrollment Process for City Employees, Help Private Schools Employ Security Guards

January 13, 2025

Intro. 265-A Requires Agencies to Expedite Administrative Processes to Continue Providing City-Administered Health Insurance When City Employees Transfer Between Agencies

Intro. 532-A Expands Program for Non-Public Schools to Receive Reimbursements for Costs Related to Employing Security Guards

NEW YORK- New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed two pieces of legislation that improve the health insurance enrollment process when city employees transfer between municipal agencies and expand a program for private schools to receive reimbursements for costs related to employing security guards. Both bills build upon Mayor Adams' pledge to make New York City the best place to raise a family.

"To be the best place to raise a family, we need the best city employees to get stuff done, and that is exactly what we have in New York City," said Mayor Adams. "Our city employees are the engine that keep our city moving and deserve the best benefits to take care of themselves while raising their families. For too long, bureaucratic red tape made it harder to access critical health insurance benefits. Thanks to today's legislation, we're giving city employees peace of mind, expanding a critical program to expedite the administrative process, and ensuring the transition from working at one agency to another comes with immediate health benefits. Families shouldn't have to worry when sending their kids to school, including at our private schools. That's why we are expanding the reimbursement programs for school security guards, keeping our children safe no matter what school they are at."

"This administration has a clear mission to keep New Yorkers safe, and with the expansion of the reimbursement program for school security guards, we're helping to ensure that all of our city's kids are protected," said New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Louis A. Molina. "This expansion is a clear statement that the program is meaningful to New Yorkers, and we are thankful to Mayor Adams and the New York City Council for their support in bringing it to even more schools across the city."

"Safety and security in our schools should always be nonnegotiable, because there's nothing more important than keeping our kids safe," said New York City Councilmember Justin Brannan. "We know the initial rollout of the city's Nonpublic School Security Guard program has worked well. Expanding it to cover more of our schools and students just makes sense. When we take care of their safety, kids can just focus on school. That means better educational outcomes and a brighter future for all of us. I'm grateful for the families, school communities, and other stakeholders who got us here, and to Speaker Adams and the rest of our City Council for joining me on this issue and getting it done. I also want to thank Mayor Adams for signing this important legislation into law and ensuring our kids' safety remains a top priority."

"Clear communication and expedited processes are not merely administrative enhancements; they are essential lifelines for workers and their families, providing stability during transitions and alleviating unnecessary stress," said New York City Councilmember Rita Joseph. "By guaranteeing that our public servants have the information and support they need to maintain uninterrupted health coverage, we are affirming that New York City stands behind the individuals who tirelessly serve our communities. This initiative underscores our collective commitment to creating a workforce environment where employees feel valued, respected, and supported as they contribute to the vitality and resilience of our city. As someone deeply committed to advancing fairness, efficiency, and respect within our city's workforce, Intro. 265-A is a vital step toward protecting the health and well-being of our public servants. This legislation will simplify and improve access to city administered health insurance, ensuring that employees transferring between agencies can maintain their coverage seamlessly, free from unnecessary delays or interruptions."

Intro. 265-A - sponsored by New York City Councilmember Rita Joseph - would require agencies to make best efforts to expedite any administrative processes related to providing continuing city-administered health insurance coverage when an employee transfers from one municipal agency to another. The bill would also require that municipal agencies provide detailed information regarding accessing city-administered benefits when an employee begins employment at that agency, including deadlines for any actions the employee must take to enroll in health coverage and contact information for individuals at the agency who can provide guidance regarding city-administered benefits.

Intro. 532-A - sponsored by New York City Councilmember Justin Brannan- expands a program whereby private schools are eligible to seek reimbursement from the city for costs related to employing security guards. Currently, only private schools with more than 300 students are eligible to participate in the program. This bill would expand the existing program to cover more schools and increase the annual spending cap that is included in the current law. First, the threshold of eligibility would be lowered to include schools with 150 or more students. Additionally, the program would be expanded to include certain charter schools that are not co-located in an existing public school building.

Mayor Adams has made historic investments towards investing in the city workforce and increasing benefits for municipal workers. Last year, the administration doubled paid parental leave for non-union employees, from six to 12 weeks, and provided up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for those caring for seriously ill family members. The administration's expansion of paid parental and family leave impacts over 10,000 municipal employees and makes the City of New York more competitive with municipalities and private-sector employers across the country - taking steps to advance Mayor Adams' ambitious goal of making New York City the most women-forward city in the United States and the best place to raise a family. Mayor Adams also expanded employee benefits to increase access and support for tens of thousands of city workers in building a family. Now, members of the "Management Benefits Fund" - which provides benefits to approximately 27,000 non-union employees and retirees - will be eligible for "Family Building Benefits" to provide up to $10,000 in reimbursement for costs associated with adoption, surrogacy, and egg or sperm donation. This marks the first time a major U.S. city has provided these benefits to city employees and is similar to benefits increasingly being provided by private-sector companies and universities. These expansions add to the administration's release of "Women Forward NYC: An Action Plan for Gender Equity," a more-than-$43 million investment aimed at making New York City a national leader on gender equity, including for transgender and gender expansive New Yorkers.

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