FLUSHING, NY–Today, Assemblymembers Nily Rozic (D-Fresh Meadows) and Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) held a press conference at Public Health Solutions’ Flushing WIC Center to advocate for the passage of legislation A8437/S7793. This legislation aims to extend the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to cover all public health workers.

Hevesi's legislation seeks to address an ongoing wage issue by extending last year’s COLA increase to all nonprofit contracts, ensuring fair compensation that reflects the essential nature of all public health workers. Currently, New York is required to provide cost of living increases to only some contracted human service workers and programs. Because of this, many human services workers across the state do not receive the wage increase and instead are held at lower rates. This has made it challenging for human services provider organizations to hire and retain qualified staff.

“This legislation will positively impact the lives of our community-based public health workers. They are the backbone of our communities, tirelessly working to ensure everyone’s wellbeing, often without the recognition they truly deserve. Passing this legislation means that our dedicated public health workers will be able to sustain themselves and their families in the face of ever-rising living costs,” said Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.

“For decades, New York State has failed to understand and acknowledge the crucial importance of human services workers. It is our responsibility to provide deserved Cost Of Living Adjustments for our state employees,” said Andrew Hevesi, Chair of the Assembly Children & Families Committee. “Thank you to our partners in this effort, the Chinese-American Planning Council, Public Health Solutions and a huge thank you to Assemblymember Rozic for all of her efforts on behalf of these workers.”