S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3627
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 29, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Employees
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to excused absence of
a public employee for mental health purposes
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The civil service law is amended by adding a new section
159-e to read as follows:
§ 159-E. EXCUSED LEAVE FOR MENTAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. 1. EVERY
PUBLIC OFFICER, EMPLOYEE OF THIS STATE, EMPLOYEE OF ANY COUNTY, EMPLOYEE
OF ANY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, EMPLOYEE OF ANY PUBLIC AUTHORITY, EMPLOYEE OF
ANY PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, EMPLOYEE OF ANY BOARD OF COOPERATIVE
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (BOCES), EMPLOYEE OF ANY VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND
EXTENSION BOARD, OR A SCHOOL DISTRICT ENUMERATED IN SECTION ONE OF CHAP-
TER FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX OF THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN,
EMPLOYEE OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, EMPLOYEE OF ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT, ANY
EMPLOYEE OF A PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER IN THE NEW YORK STATE AND LOCAL
EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR ANY EMPLOYEE OF A PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER
IN THE NEW YORK STATE TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM SHALL BE ENTITLED TO
ABSENT THEMSELF AND SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE A PAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM
THEIR DUTIES OR SERVICE AS SUCH PUBLIC OFFICER, EMPLOYEE OF THIS STATE,
EMPLOYEE OF ANY COUNTY, EMPLOYEE OF ANY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, EMPLOYEE OF
ANY PUBLIC AUTHORITY, EMPLOYEE OF ANY PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION,
EMPLOYEE OF ANY BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (BOCES),
EMPLOYEE OF ANY VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND EXTENSION BOARD, OR A SCHOOL
DISTRICT ENUMERATED IN SECTION ONE OF CHAPTER FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX OF
THE LAWS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN, EMPLOYEE OF ANY MUNICIPALITY,
EMPLOYEE OF ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT, ANY EMPLOYEE OF A PARTICIPATING EMPLOY-
ER IN THE NEW YORK STATE AND LOCAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR ANY
EMPLOYEE OF A PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER IN THE NEW YORK STATE TEACHERS'
RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF MENTAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06343-01-5
A. 3627 2
2. ABSENCE FOR THE MENTAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION SHALL NOT BE CHARGED TO THE SICK TIME ALLOTTED FOR SUCH EMPLOY-
EE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.