When disaster strikes, the New York National Guard is among the first to respond. Now, Assemblyman Josh Jensen (R,C-Greece) is drawing attention to the gap in state law that leaves these service members without the workplace protections they need. In a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul and other state leaders, Jensen is urging the expansion of the New York State Paid Family Leave (PFL) program to cover National Guard members deployed during domestic emergencies.

“National Guard members leave their jobs, families and communities to respond to all types of emergencies across our state,” said Jensen. “They step up in our most difficult moments, yet our current paid family leave policies don’t cover the hardships they face when called into domestic service. That needs to change.”

While New York’s PFL program offers support to workers during moments of personal or family need, it does not currently guarantee those protections for National Guard members when they are deployed within the state. Jensen argues this leaves service members and their families vulnerable to unnecessary financial strain and job insecurity.

In his attached letter, Jensen highlighted the Guard’s longstanding role in protecting New Yorkers, from disaster response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and emphasized the Guard’s unique dual role as both military personnel and everyday members of the community.

“Our Guard members are also our neighbors. They’re teachers, parents, EMTs and small business owners,” said Jensen. “They’ve answered the call time and time again. It’s time New York answers theirs by providing the same workplace protections we expect for all families.”

Jensen is calling for legislative or executive action to ensure that PFL applies when National Guard members are deployed domestically under state or federal orders.