What's happening
This bill allows spouses of deployed military members to take up to ten days unpaid leave when their spouse returns on leave.
Why it matters
Supports military families by ensuring spouses can spend valuable time with their loved one during brief periods of leave after long deployments, without fear of losing their job.
Addresses the emotional and practical needs of families coping with the stresses of military service, recognizing the importance of reintegration after extended separations.
Promotes employer awareness of the unique challenges faced by military families, potentially encouraging more family-friendly workplace policies and a culture of support.
May help with the retention and well-being of service members, as family stability and support are critical factors in the decision to continue military service.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Leave for Military Spouses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to labor
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to labor
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.
Military Spouse Leave Approved
In Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor Stephen Hawley
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
678
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to a leave of absence for military spouses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 202-i of the labor law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. The spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States, national guard or reserves who has been deployed, shall be allowed up to ten days unpaid leave by their employer. Such leave shall only be used when such person's spouse is on leave from the armed forces of the United States, national guard, or reserves after having been deployed for a period of no less than one hundred twenty days.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02105-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to a leave of absence for military spouses
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation would extend coverage under Section 202-i of the labor law to allow the spouses of deployed servicemembers who are not deployed to a combat zone or theater ten days of unpaid leave while the spouse is on leave from deployment.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of this bill states that the spouse of a member of the armed forces, national guard or reserves who has been deployed shall be allowed up to ten days of unpaid leave by their employer. However, the military member will have to have been deployed for a minimum of 120 days and on leave to be eligible for this unpaid leave.
Justification
Troops are regularly deploying to non-combat zones throughout the world, including Guantanamo Bay and Africa. While on these deployments, the servicemembers are typically entitled to 14 days of leave. For those families whose loved one is not deployed to a combat zone, they may not be able to spend time with their family member without this coverage, which is detrimental to both the servicemember and the spouse.
Prior legislative history
2017-2018: S1155 Advanced to Rules 2015-2016: S7095A Advanced to Rules Committee
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.