S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1664
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to dysmenorrhea and use of
sick leave
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 19 to read
as follows:
§ 19. SICK LEAVE; DYSMENORRHEA. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
(A) "EMPLOYER" MEANS A STATE AGENCY, AN OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT, A UNIT
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, A SCHOOL DISTRICT, AN INDIVIDUAL, A PARTNERSHIP, AN
ASSOCIATION, A CORPORATION OR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WHICH EMPLOYS
ONE OR MORE EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK;
(B) "DYSMENORRHEA" MEANS PAINFUL MENSTRUATION, TYPICALLY INVOLVING
ABDOMINAL CRAMPS; AND
(C) "SICK LEAVE" SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY BENEFIT PROVIDED UNDER AN
EMPLOYEE WELFARE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT
INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974 AND SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY INSURANCE BENEFIT,
WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFIT, UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION DISABILITY
BENEFIT, OR BENEFIT NOT PAYABLE FROM THE EMPLOYER.
2. ANY EMPLOYEE WORKING FOR AN EMPLOYER, WHICH PROVIDES SICK LEAVE FOR
ITS EMPLOYEES, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO UTILIZE SUCH EMPLOYEE'S ACCRUED AND
AVAILABLE SICK LEAVE AS A RESULT OF SUFFERING FROM DYSMENORRHEA. SUCH
LEAVE MAY BE TAKEN IN EITHER FULL DAY OR PARTIAL DAY INCREMENTS.
3. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO A VALID COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING AGREEMENT, AN EMPLOYER WHO PROVIDES SICK LEAVE FOR EMPLOYEES
SHALL PERMIT AN EMPLOYEE TO USE IN ANY CALENDAR YEAR, SUCH EMPLOYEE'S
ACCRUED AND AVAILABLE SICK LEAVE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
§ 2. Nothing in this act shall be construed to impede, infringe or
diminish the rights and benefits which accrue to employees through bona
fide collective bargaining agreements, or otherwise diminish the integ-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04107-01-5
A. 1664 2
rity of existing collective bargaining agreements and other past prac-
tices.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided however, the provisions of this act
shall not supersede any collective bargaining agreement, during its
term, in existence on the effective date of this act.