Relates to permitting certain claims for compensation based on death due to COVID-19 in memory of Joseph Fletcher

Latest action Apr 21, 2026

Enacts the "Joseph Fletcher act"; permits certain claims by essential employees for compensation based on death due to COVID-19 which were previously denied or not timely filed.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A695, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Workers' Compensation Law.

Committee

Labor · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Labor · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To amend the workers compensation law, in relation to death benefits based on death due to COVID-19; and prova repeal of such provision upon the expiration thereof.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Labor
Senate LaborApr 21, 2026Result: passed
(13) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Labor
Senate LaborMay 27, 2025Result: passed
(12) (1) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Brian Manktelow, David McDonough and 14 more on Agora

Republican9
Democratic7

Show all 16 on Agora

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Kevin S. Parker says this is needed

A study appearing in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medi- cine finds that while 87% of COVID-19 claims were for essential workers, of the 6,321 COVID-19 related deaths, only 2% resulted in a claim for death benefits under the Workers Compensation Law in 2020 and 2021. This suggests that the number of work-related death claims was significantly underreported and that the number of claims for death benefits actually filed by surviving family members of essential workers bears no relationship to the number of eligible families. These families are presently ineligible for death benefits due to the requirement that such a claim be brought within two years of death. This disparity can be caused by several factors including, but not limited to unfamiliarity with the eligibility for death benefits or whom to contact to seek those benefits; the failure of employers tc properly advise surviving families of their ability to file for such benefits; language barriers and the overwhelming grief of sudden loss of a provid- er in the midst of a global pandemic. This bill provides families with one additional year from she date signed into law to file a claim for death benefits to which they would otherwise be entitled.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Apr 21, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Senate
May 27, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Mar 5, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Senate

Show full history (1 earlier event)

Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO LABOR
NY Assembly

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 2, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

Your position