Senators press workers’ compensation, prevailing‑wage and apprenticeship changes in budget talks

Senator Harry Bronson and Senator Steven Rhodes described a package of labor and workers’ protections they want reflected in the enacted budget, including revisions to prevailing‑wage coverage, workers’ compensation access changes, and expanded apprenticeship investments.

Bronson noted a negotiated threshold under Labor Law 224‑a that requires prevailing wages when taxpayer dollars subsidize private contract work is "not working" and said the Assembly proposes revising the covered projects to expand prevailing wage coverage in construction. He also highlighted proposals to fund pre‑apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs that intentionally recruit marginalized communities into the workforce.

Senator Steven Rhodes urged improvements in workers’ access to medical treatment under workers’ compensation and described two bills, S304 and S306, discussed as potential fixes. Rhodes said S304 would treat medical treatment guidelines as a floor rather than a ceiling to expand access, and S306 would allow non‑network pharmacies to provide medications at network reimbursement rates and similarly ease access to diagnostic services.

Rhodes also criticized the Department of Labor for not investigating certain correction facility safety complaints tied to recent labor disputes and urged stronger enforcement to protect workers in those settings. The participants requested the Legislature and governor adopt revisions and funding in final budget negotiations; no votes or formal rule changes were taken during the subcommittee meeting.