What's happening
This bill allows New York State employees up to four hours of excused leave annually to donate blood without using other leave.
Why it matters
Encourages blood donation by removing a common barrier. By providing dedicated, excused leave specifically for blood donation, the bill makes it easier for state employees to participate without worrying about losing vacation or sick time.
Potentially increases blood supply for New York. Making it more convenient for thousands of state workers to donate could help address recurring blood shortages, benefiting hospitals and patients statewide.
Sets a precedent for workplace health policies. This law could inspire other public and private employers to adopt similar measures, promoting broader workplace support for community health initiatives.
Includes accountability to prevent abuse. The requirement for written proof of donation helps ensure the leave is used as intended, balancing employee benefits with employer oversight.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Excused Absence for Blood Donation
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.502
- Referred to civil service and pensions
- Referred to rules
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 Blood Donation
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Employees · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6835
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
November 8, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to permitting employees of the state to be excused from work to donate blood
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The civil service law is amended by adding a new section 159-d to read as follows:
§ 159-d. Excused leave to donate blood. 1. Every public officer or employee of this state shall be entitled to absent himself or herself and shall be deemed to have a leave of absence from his or her duties or service as such public officer or employee of this state, for a sufficient period of time, not to exceed four hours on an annual basis, to donate blood.
2. A supervisor of any such public officer or employee may require the public officer or employee to provide written substantiation from a donation center or entity coordinating donations that the public officer or employee actually donated blood during the excused absence.
3. 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 or employee of this state is otherwise entitled to.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00747-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to permitting employ- ees of the state to be excused from work to donate blood
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to encourage greater participation in blood drives and increase the pool of actual blood donors by providing time off for donation.
Summary of specific provisions
State employees, at the discretion of the employees' appointing authori- ty, may take time off for the purpose of donating blood. They may take up to four hours per donation. The appointing authority may require that the employee provide written substantiation from the donation center that he/she actually donated blood during the excused absence.
Justification
The State of New York is currently in the midst of a blood shortage. According to reports, there is less than a day's supply of blood on hand at varying hospitals throughout the State. This problem has continually cropped up in recent years as there have been fewer donors over the last decade. State government can help alleviate this problem by providing its employees with a motive to donate blood
Prior legislative history
2017-18- A.2462 - Referred to Ways and Means
2015-16- A.1917 - Referred to Ways and Means
2013-14- A.368 - Held for Consideration in Ways and Means
2011-12- A.1590 - Referred to Ways and Means
2009-10- A.1838 - Referred to Governmental Employees/ S.1711- Referred to Civil Service and Pensions
2007-08- A.3102-A - Referred to Governmental Operations/ Referenced Changed to Government Employees
2005-06- A.I427-A - Referred to Governmental Operations! Referenced Changed to Government Employees
2003-04- A.7936 - Referred to Ways and Means/ 5.3480- Referred to Over- sight and Government Operations
2001-02- A.8900 - Referred to Government Operations/ S.1414- Referred to Oversight and Government Operations
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.