S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9963
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 3, 2020
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CUSICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Employees
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to increasing
protection against retaliation for public employees and provides an
affirmative defense
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 75-b of the civil service law is
amended by adding a new paragraph (b) to read as follows:
(B) A PUBLIC EMPLOYER SHALL NOT DISMISS OR TAKE OTHER DISCIPLINARY OR
OTHER ADVERSE PERSONNEL ACTION AGAINST A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE REGARDING THE
EMPLOYEE'S EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEE FAILS TO PERFORM A DUTY WHEN
SUCH ACTION IS DEEMED IMPROPER BY ANY GROUP, PERSON, BODY, ORGANIZATION,
LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE OR SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORM.
§ 2. Section 75-b of the civil service law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
3-A. IT SHALL BE AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE IN ANY DISCIPLINARY OR OTHER
ADVERSE PERSONNEL ACTION AGAINST A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE REGARDING THE EMPLOY-
EE'S EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEE FAILED TO PERFORM A DUTY AND/OR
ACTION AS PRESCRIBED UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LAW OR REGULATION IF
THE EMPLOYEE REASONABLY BELIEVED THAT SUCH DUTY AND/OR ACTION MAY INVOKE
COMMUNITY UNREST, PUBLIC SCORN OR SOCIETAL BACKLASH BY ANY GROUP,
PERSON, BODY, ORGANIZATION, LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE OR SOCIAL
NETWORKING PLATFORM.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14211-02-9