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

3 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• Kevin S. Parker
• David J. Valesky

BILL NUMBER:S4894A

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 or general idea of bill

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 specific 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, 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 is the second most leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, it is approximated that about 1,658,370 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2015. Annual cancer screenings provide doctors and patients the opportunity to detect cancer early, before the symptoms appear, further resulting in less extensive treatment and better outcomes for patients. According to the American Cancer Society, screening is known to reduce the mortality rate for cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix, and lung.

This bill will provide governmental employees with a paid leave of absence up to four hours, or the cumulative equivalent of two full-time days, per cancer screening type each year. Not only will this bill save the state a substantial amount of money in health care costs, but it will also aid in the effort to reduce cancer rates across New York State

Prior legislative history

2013-14: A 9366 - Referred to Ways and Means/S 7160 - Advanced to Third Reading Calendar

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.