The health care union 1199SEIU on Thursday is set to release a new ad highlighting the labor group's push for nursing home protections as the state budget season comes to a head in Albany. 

The ad from the politically powerful union highlights a push for measures meant to boost staffing levels in nursing homes, which have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Democratic-led state Senate and Assembly have approved varying measures which will have to be reconciled before they can go to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for final approval. The measures are being considered as scrutiny has built over the Cuomo administration's handling of nursing homes and reporting of fatality data during the pandemic. 

For 1199, much of the debate has centered around ensuring facilities have adequate staffing and other protections. 

The union has also cheered measures meant to boost spending by the facilities on resident care and staffing as well as preventing facility owners considered to have poor track records from purchasing new homes.