Grants excused leave to public officers, employees of the state, county, municipality or school district to undertake screening for cancer; repealer

5 Co-sponsors

• Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Kevin S. Parker
• Bill Perkins
• José M. Serrano

BILL NUMBER:S7160

Title of bill

An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to directing the granting of excused leave to public officers and public employees to undertake cancer screenings; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto

Purpose

The purpose of this legislation is to encourage people to be screened regularly for all types of cancer by providing time off from work, thereby increasing the number of cancers caught at an early stage and improving public health.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill amends Section 159-b of the Civil Service Law to entitle any employee of the state, any county, municipality, school district, community college, public authorities public benefit corporations, any board of cooperative educational services (BOCES), vocational education and extension board, participating employers in the New York state and local employees' retirement system, or of a participating employer in the New York state teachers' retirement system to have a paid leave of absence from his or her duties or service for a sufficient period of time, not to exceed four hours per cancer screening type, or the cumulative equivalent of two full-time days, whichever is less on annual basis, to undertake a screening for cancer. It also provides that an employer may reserve the right to require all employees provide a written referral from a physician or other duty authorized health care provider.

Section 2 repeals Section 159-c of the Civil Service Law Section 3 sets the effective date.

Justification

Cancer, in all its forms, is one the most deadly diseases that human beings face today. There are over 200 types of cancer, which can affect 60 organs throughout the human body. In 2012, cancer caused 8.2 million deaths worldwide. In 2013 in New York State alone, 34,240 New Yorkers lost their lives to 10 different types of cancer, such as brain, breast, colon, rectum, and liver cancers to name a few. The chances for survival and the effective treatment of cancer are much higher when cancers are detected at early stages. It is important that employees are provided with the necessary time in order to receive proper screenings for cancer.

Legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined by state and local governments. However, preventative cancer screening can detect problems in their early stages and prevent more serious medical conditions which have an adverse effect on workers productivity, whereby increasing overall costs to the state.

EFFECTIVE DATE::

Ninetieth day after it becomes law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.