Senate Bill S6973

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6973

SPONSOR: WEBER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring employers to
offer paid leave to veteran employees on Veterans' day

 
PURPOSE:

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to requiring public employers
to guarantee a paid leave of absence for public employees who are Veter-
ans on Veteran's Day

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section I amends labor law to require that public employers guarantee a
leave of absence on Veterans' Day for public employees who are Veterans.

Section 2 establishes that the act shall take effect immediately.

 
              

JUSTIFICATION:

Over 675,000 veterans call New York State home, many of whom participate
in the workforce.

Since 1954, Veterans Day has been a federal holiday in the United
States, in which many individuals, whether Veterans or not, are excused
from work, having their place of work closed on this day.  There are,
however, many public employees who, depending upon the nature of their
work, work a job that doesn't allow for their office to close in obser-
vance of Veterans Day. Although these employees are often compensated
with incentives such as overtime pay, Veterans employed in these jobs
aren't guaranteed the choice to observe the holiday meant to honor them.

Veterans Day is meant to honor these individuals and the incredible
sacrifices that they have made on our country's behalf by serving in the
military. Every Veteran continues to serve this country by working in a
public job should have the choice to observe Veterans Day if they wish
to do so.

This bill would require public employers to allow employees who are
Veterans the option to observe Veteran's Day, unless they are designated
as a critical employee in which they would be entitled to a leave of
absence on another day in lieu of Veterans Day.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill to the Senate.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act shall take effect immediately after it shall have become law.