What's happening
This bill allows New York State employees who served in combat zones to receive up to eight paid days off per year for healthcare related to their service.
Why it matters
Targets support specifically to combat veterans. The bill distinguishes between general military service and service in designated combat zones, ensuring that those exposed to heightened risks and unique health challenges from combat receive additional, dedicated support for their healthcare needs.
Reduces financial barriers to healthcare. By providing up to eight paid days off per year for combat-related healthcare, the bill lessens the risk that veterans will have to choose between their paycheck and seeking necessary treatment—potentially improving health outcomes and quality of life.
Encourages proactive care for service-related conditions. This paid leave can help veterans address both physical and mental health issues (such as PTSD or injuries) without delay, possibly reducing the severity of long-term complications and supporting smoother reintegration into the civilian workforce.
Requires documented proof of combat service. The policy is limited to those who can show official documentation (e.g., DD214 or other Department of Defense papers), ensuring the benefit is targeted to its intended population and potentially minimizing abuse.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Extra Paid Leave for Veterans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 3
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Approval memo.13
- Signed chap.406
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.590
- Substituted for A3198A
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Amended on third reading 2911a
- Advanced to third reading
Show 3 earlier actions
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.308
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Expand Paid Military Leave
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2911--A Cal. No. 308
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CROCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the military law, in relation to authorizing additional paid leave for certain employees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 242 of the military law, as amended by chapter 161 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
5. Pay for military duty. (a) Every public officer or employee shall be paid his or her salary or other compensation as such public officer or employee for any and all periods of absence while engaged in the performance of ordered military duty, and while going to and returning from such duty, not exceeding a total of thirty days or twenty-two working days, whichever is greater, in any one calendar year and not exceeding thirty days or twenty-two working days, whichever is greater, in any one continuous period of such absence.
(b) Every public officer or employee employed by the state of New York who served in a combat theater or combat zone of operations as documented by a copy of his or her DD214, certificate of release or discharge from active duty, or other applicable department of defense documentation, shall be paid his or her salary or other compensation as such public officer or employee for any and all periods of absence while utilizing any healthcare related services related to such duty, not exceeding eight working days, in any one calendar year.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00987-06-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the military law, in relation to authorizing additional paid leave for certain employees
Purpose or general idea of bill
To amend Section 242 of the Military Law to provide additional paid leave to certain employees of the State of New York with military combat experience, for health related services.
Summary of specific provisions
Sections One of the bill amends the Military Law to provide additional leave to State employees with military combat experience so that they may obtaining health related services without loss of pay.
Section Two is the effective date.
Existing law
Under current law, public employees with military experience are provided with paid leave for performance of military duty, totaling thirty days or twenty-two working days, whichever is greater.
Justification
Public employees who serve in our Nation's military are afforded paid leave under New York's Military Law. Specifically, these employees are provided with the greater of 30 calendar days or 22 working days in any calendar year, regardless of the type of military service. While the paid leave afforded to these dedicated civil service is sufficient for many such individuals, in some instances additional leave for health related service is needed by our combat veterans.
Unfortunately, many members of our military are required to engage in combat during service- literally placing their lives on the line for the safety and protection of the citizens of our country. The experiences of combat can certainly take their toll on these men and women, both physically and emotionally. To afford these brave men and women with a minimal amount of additional leave that will be utilized for healthcare services, such as counseling, is certainly sound public policy. Taking these small steps to assist our men and women in the military will allow them to more effectively assimilate back into society and their positions of public employment.
Prior legislative history
S5268 of 2015/16: Advanced to Third Reading
Fiscal implications
Minimal
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.