In many of the state’s concentrated communities, parking has presented nurses and the state’s most medically fragile individuals with a sincere barrier to care. In many cases, our nurses must possess a parking permit to park legally. However, even with these permits, our nurses often receive tickets or even have their cars towed.

During a recent conversation with Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, the Government Affairs Office (GAO) explained that nurses are reluctant to serve clients in these areas, which has led to recruitment and retention issues for BAYADA and other home care providers.

As a result, the assemblywoman introduced legislation A3683, which would allow home care providers to obtain parking placards, comparable to handicapped parking placards, from the Motor Vehicle Commission, for our nurses. We are currently waiting for the bill to be heard in the Transportation Committee.