What's happening
This bill allows municipal employers to provide up to five days of paid leave for combat veterans to access health-related services.
Why it matters
Supports combat veterans in municipal jobs. by allowing (at the municipality’s option) up to five days of paid leave to seek care for health issues related specifically to their service in combat zones, recognizing unique service-connected needs.
Empowers local governments. to adopt this benefit via local law or resolution, giving communities the flexibility to support veteran employees based on local priorities and resources, rather than imposing a state mandate.
Ensures equal eligibility. for all combat veterans, whether their service was in a “combat theater” or a “combat zone,” and regardless of specific job title within municipal employment, provided they can document qualifying service.
Protects existing union rights. by explicitly stating that this new benefit cannot override or reduce any rights or remedies already provided by collective bargaining agreements, ensuring no loss of negotiated protections for employees.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Paid Leave for Veteran Health
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 8
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A1093B
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1022
- Print number 5285a
- Amend and recommit to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- 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.
Paid Leave for Veteran Health
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5285--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 23, 2019
Introduced by Sens. BROOKS, SERINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
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. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of any employee under any collective bargaining agreement.
§ 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.
LBD01659-05-9
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
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 subdivision 5 of section 242 of the Mili- tary 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 is the enacting clause.
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.
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 one hundred and twentieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.