What's happening
This bill allows public employees paid leave for any cancer screening, not just breast cancer, and repeals related outdated provisions.
Why it matters
Expanding paid leave for all types of cancer screenings. means public employees can now use excused time off to obtain early detection for any cancer, not just breast cancer—potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and improved health outcomes.
Treating cancer screenings as a distinct benefit. ensures that the time taken for these medical appointments won’t reduce other accrued leave, such as sick or personal days, possibly encouraging more employees to get screened.
Repealing outdated, breast cancer-specific provisions. simplifies the law and removes inconsistencies, making it clearer and easier for both employees and employers to understand their rights and responsibilities.
Broader access to preventive care. could reduce long-term healthcare costs for public employers by catching cancers earlier, when treatment is more effective and less expensive.
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Who cares
Public officers and public employees
The bill would broaden paid screening leave from breast cancer to cancer generally, allowing up to four hours annually without charging other leave balances.
State, county and municipal employers
They would have to administer the broader cancer-screening leave entitlement for covered officers and employees.
School districts, BOCES and community colleges
Their employees would qualify for paid leave for cancer screenings beyond breast cancer under the expanded provision.
Headline styles
Paid Leave for Cancer Screening
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.465
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.473
- Substituted for A2830B
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1799
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to civil service and pensions
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.
Paid Leave for Cancer Screening
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5925
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 5, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HANNON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 159-b of the civil service law, as amended by chapter 566 of the laws of 2006, subdivisions 1 and 2 as amended by chapter 391 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
§ 159-b. Excused leave to undertake a screening for [breast] cancer. 1. Every public officer, employee of this state, employee of any county, employee of any community college, employee of any public authority, employee of any public benefit corporation, employee of any board of cooperative educational services (BOCES), employee of any vocational education and extension board, or a school district enumerated in section one of chapter five hundred sixty-six of the laws of nineteen hundred sixty-seven, employee of any municipality, employee of any school district or any employee of a participating employer in the New York state and local employees' retirement system or any employee of a participating employer in the New York state teachers' retirement system shall be entitled to absent himself or herself and shall be deemed to have a paid leave of absence from his or her duties or service as such public officer or employee of this state, employee of any county, employee of any community college, employee of any public authority, employee of any public benefit corporation, employee of any board of cooperative educational services (BOCES), employee of any vocational education and extension board, or a school district enumerated in section one of chapter five hundred sixty-six of the laws of nineteen hundred sixty-seven, employee of any municipality, employee of any
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04976-06-7
S. 5925 2
school district, or any employee of a participating employer in the New York state and local employees' retirement system or any employee of a participating employer in the New York state teachers' retirement system for a sufficient period of time, not to exceed four hours on an annual basis, to undertake a screening for [breast] cancer.
2. The entire period of the leave of absence granted pursuant to this section shall be excused leave and shall not be charged against any other leave such public officer, employee of this state, employee of any county, employee of any community college, employee of any public authority, employee of any public benefit corporation, employee of any board of cooperative educational services (BOCES), employee of any vocational education and extension board, or a school district enumerated in section one of chapter five hundred sixty-six of the laws of nineteen hundred sixty-seven, employee of any municipality, employee of any school district or any employee of a participating employer in the New York state and local employees' retirement system or any employee of a participating employer in the New York state teachers' retirement system is otherwise entitled to.
§ 2. Section 159-c of the civil service law is REPEALED.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a 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.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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 corpo- rations, any board of cooperative educational services (BOCES), voca- tional 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, screen- ing is known to reduce the mortality rate for cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, cervix, and lung.
This bill will provide governmental employees with paid leave of absence up to four hours a year for cancer screening. 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.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.4894 2013-14: 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 regu- lation 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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.