What's happening
This bill allows local governments to grant up to five days of paid leave for certain veterans to access health services related to their combat service.
Why it matters
Expands local government authority. This bill gives counties, cities, towns, and other municipal employers the option (but not the requirement) to grant up to five days of paid leave for veterans who served in combat zones, recognizing their unique health needs post-service.
Targets a specific group of veterans. Only veterans with documented service in a combat theater or combat zone (as proven by DD214 or similar Department of Defense paperwork) are eligible, ensuring the benefit is focused on those most likely to face combat-related health issues.
Addresses gaps in current state policy. The bill specifically covers public employees of local governments who are not already eligible for similar benefits under state employment, closing a gap that previously excluded some veterans from paid health-related leave.
Local discretion, not a mandate. The bill does not require local governments to provide this benefit, but allows them to do so via resolution or local law, meaning adoption and implementation will vary based on community priorities and resources.
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Who cares
Municipal employees who served in combat
Eligible veterans could receive up to five working days of paid leave annually for health services related to their combat duty if their municipality opts in.
Municipal governing bodies
The bill would let them authorize the paid leave by resolution or local law, at their sole discretion.
Municipal payroll and personnel offices
Any adopted leave policy would have to cover both combat theater and combat zone veterans employed by the municipality.
Headline styles
Allow Paid Combat-Care Leave
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1349
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SERINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the military law, in relation to authorizing additional paid leave for health related services 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 is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
(c) Public officers or employees, as defined by paragraph (a) of subdivision one of this section, who are not employees of the state of New York and therefore not entitled to the benefits contained in paragraph (b) of this subdivision, who have 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, may be entitled to additional paid leave for health related services related to duty in a combat theater or combat zone of operations. The governing body of a municipal corporation may, in its sole discretion, adopt a resolution or local law providing for the payment of the salary or other compensation of such public officers or employees for any and all periods of absence while utilizing healthcare related services related to duty in a combat theater or combat zone of operations, not exceeding five working days, in any one calendar year. Any such local law or resolution adopted must apply to both combat theater veterans and combat zone of operations veterans employed by such public employer.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as section 1 of chapter 406 of the laws of 2017, takes effect.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01659-01-9
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 health related services for certain employees
Purpose or general idea of bill
To amend Subdivision 5 of Section 242 of the Military Law to provide, at local option, additional paid leave to public officers or employees with military combat experience, for health related services.
Summary of provisions
Section One of the bill amends the Military Law to provide additional leave to public officers or employees not employed by the State of New York with military combat experience so that they may obtain health related services related to duty in a combat theater or combat zone of operations without loss of pay.
Section Two provides the effective date.
Justification
Under current law, State employees with military combat experience may get additional leave for the purpose of obtaining health related services without loss of pay. This bill will allow municipal corpo- rations to offer the same necessity to their officers or employees with military combat experience. Our heroes who have already spent a great deal of time away from home in a combat zone, fighting for our freedom, should not have to choose between using personal time to spend with their families or receiving proper treatment for health reasons that are often related to their wartime experiences. These brave men and women are choosing to continue in public service and they need our support.
Prior legislative history
2018: S.8250 (Croci) Advanced to Third Reading; S.9034 (Serino) Referred to Rules/A.10650A (Paulin) Passed Assembly
Fiscal implications
None to the State
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as section 1 of chapter 406 of the laws of 2017, takes effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.