BILL NUMBER: S8366

SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to coverage
for benefits under family leave related to national guard deployment
during a state of emergency

 
PURPOSE:

Intent on this bill is to grant our national guard members who are
deployed during at state of emergency the same family leave benefits
afforded to state employees.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Subdivision 15 of section 201 of the worker's compensation
law, as added by section 2 of part SS of chapter 54 of the taws of 2016.
"Family leave shall mean any leave taken by an employee from work to
provide care, including physical or psychological care, for a family
member of the employee or to bond with the employees child during the
              

first twelve months after the child's birth, or the first twelve months
after the placement of the child for adoption or foster care with
employee or because of any qualifying exigency and interpreted under the
family and medical leave act,

Arising out of the fact that the spouse, domestic partner, child, parent
oof the employee is on active duty or had been notified of an impending
call or order to active duty in the armed forces of the United States,
or has been deployed t active service as a member of the New York
national guard due to a declared state of emergency under section twen-
ty-eighth of the executive law or active service of the state ordered
under section six of military law.

Section 2: This Act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Military families face unique challenges that require family leave to
manage the emotional and logistical demands of military service.  Family
provides military families with the opportunity to take time off work to
care for a service member who is injured, address needs during a service
member's deployment, or manage related arrangements.  This leave is
essential for maintaining the well-being of military families while
navigating the complexities of military obligations. By offering this
leave, employers and the government contribute to a more stable home
environment, reducing the emotional and financial strain often experi-
enced during service member absences. Additionally, military family
leave enhances workforce morale and productivity, ensuring that military
families receive the necessary support to maintain their employment and
continue contributing positively to the workforce.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This Act shall take effect immediately.