Relates to employer liability for on-duty assaults of employees

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Provides that if any employee, engaged in the service of any commuter rail service owned or operated by the authority or its subsidiaries, shall suffer a physical and/or mental injury that is caused by a passenger, customer or member of the public while the employee is performing an assigned duty, the employer shall be held liable for any health care costs attributable to such injury; makes related provisions.

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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 A6434, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Public Authorities Law.

Committee

Corporations, Authorities and Commissions · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · New York State Senate, Transportation · New York State Assembly, Transportation · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To ensure that employees of intercity rail passenger services and commu- ter rail services who suffer physical injuries due to line of duty assaults are properly protected, compensated and made whole for medical expenses and lost wages.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Transportation
Senate TransportationApr 29, 2025Result: passed
(13) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Christopher Ryan, Dana Levenberg and 9 more on Agora

Democratic11

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Leroy Comrie says this is needed

Alarmingly, assaults and attacks on public transit workers are occurring with increased frequency. In January of 2020, a Metro North Railroad (MNR) female conductor was punched in the face by an unruly passenger, resulting in injuries. Several years ago, it was reported that, on aver- age, at least one serious line of duty assault occurs per month on MNR trains.These numbers and incidents are unacceptable, yet equally unac- ceptable is the fact that there are no clear liability standards or guaranteed recompense to commuter rail employees who suffer line of duty assaults or attacks. This legislation sets clear standards of account- ability and liability, reasonable requiring the passenger rail companies to provide for employee medical costs and lost wages. Asking employees who have suffered assaults to pay out of pocket costs, incur lost wages, or draw down on accrued sick time is unreasonable and unfair. This bill rights a present wrong.

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

Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Senate
May 13, 2025
Reference Changed to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
REFERENCE CHANGED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
NY Assembly
Apr 29, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Mar 4, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Assembly

Show full history (1 earlier event)

Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Senate

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.

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