S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5125
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 6, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to retaining health benefits
during approved unpaid leave of absence
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 201-g to
read as follows:
§ 201-G. MAINTENANCE OF HEALTH BENEFITS DURING APPROVED LEAVE OF
ABSENCE. 1. WHENEVER AN EMPLOYER OR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY PERMITS AN
EMPLOYEE TO TAKE AN APPROVED UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE, SUCH EMPLOYER
SHALL OFFER SUCH EMPLOYEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN HIS OR HER HEALTH
CARE BENEFITS, PROVIDED THAT SUCH EMPLOYEE CONTINUES TO PAY HIS OR HER
EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION TO SUCH HEALTH PLAN THROUGH THE EMPLOYER.
2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE
THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(A) "EMPLOYEE" MEANS A PERSON WHO PERFORMS SERVICE FOR HIRE FOR AN
EMPLOYER, FOR AN AVERAGE OF TWENTY OR MORE HOURS PER WEEK, AND INCLUDES
ALL INDIVIDUALS EMPLOYED AT ANY SITE OWNED OR OPERATED BY AN EMPLOYER
BUT SHALL NOT INCLUDE AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.
(B) "EMPLOYER" MEANS A PERSON OR ENTITY THAT EMPLOYS TWENTY OR MORE
EMPLOYEES AT AT LEAST ONE SITE AND INCLUDES AN INDIVIDUAL, CORPORATION,
COUNTY, TOWN, CITY, SCHOOL DISTRICT, PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR OTHER GOVERN-
MENTAL SUBDIVISION OF ANY KIND.
3. AN EMPLOYER SHALL NOT RETALIATE AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE FOR REQUESTING
OR OBTAINING A LEAVE OF ABSENCE AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION.
4. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT AFFECT OR PREVENT AN
EMPLOYER FROM PROVIDING LEAVE IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER LEAVE AUTHORIZED
BY LAW. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT AFFECT AN EMPLOYEE'S
RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROVIDED BY LAW.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09382-01-7
A. 5125 2
5. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT AFFECT ANY OTHER TERMS OF
THE EMPLOYER'S HEALTH CARE BENEFITS AS PROVIDED BY CONTRACT OR BY LAW.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law.