S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8411
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
October 20, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ABBATE -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Employees
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to prohibiting public
employers from taking disciplinary action against public employees in
certain cases
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 IF SUCH PUBLIC
EMPLOYEE IS ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO REPRESENT THE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION
OR ITS MEMBERS OR COMMUNICATES OR OFFERS COMMENTARY ON MATTERS OF PUBLIC
CONCERN OR MATTERS AFFECTING THE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION OR ITS MEMBERS.
§ 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 IF SUCH PUBLIC
EMPLOYEE IS ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO REPRESENT THE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION
OR ITS MEMBERS, COMMUNICATES OR OFFERS COMMENTARY ON MATTERS OF PUBLIC
CONCERN OR MATTERS AFFECTING THE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION OR ITS MEMBERS.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13134-01-1