S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  2950

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 20, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, RIVERA, TITUS, ROBINSON -- Multi-
  Sponsored by -- M. of A.  ABBATE, CAHILL, COLTON, PERRY --  read  once
  and referred to the Committee on Governmental Employees

AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to paid leave to care
  for a parent or elder relative

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds and declares that
there is need for wage replacement for workers who take  time  off  from
work  to care for a sick or chronically ill parent or elder relative and
that this need will become exacerbated as the population of senior citi-
zens needing care increases in relation to the  number  of  working  age
adults. Without adequate support, a caregiver is at risk of experiencing
"caregiver   burnout",   a  state  of  physical,  emotional  and  mental
exhaustion that can occur when caregivers do not get the help they need.
Caregivers who are burned out often experience fatigue, stress, anxiety,
and depression, causing the caregiver's personal relationships and  work
performance  to  suffer. The link between caregiver stress and their own
physical and mental health problems has long been established. In  order
to  assist and support those employees who are undertaking the challenge
of caring for aged family which saves  the  state  over  eleven  billion
dollars  per  year in health care costs, the legislature hereby provides
that paid leave for a period of up to thirty days shall be  provided  to
employees  of  the state who are caring for a sick parent or elder rela-
tive.
  S 2. The civil service law is amended by adding a new section 159-d to
read as follows:
  S 159-D. PAID LEAVE TO CARE FOR A PARENT OR ELDER  RELATIVE.  1.    AS
USED  IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM "PARENT" SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS
THE BIOLOGICAL OR ADOPTIVE PARENT OF A STATE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE AND THE
TERM "ELDER RELATIVE" SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL SIXTY  YEARS  OF  AGE  OR

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07259-01-5
              

A. 2950                             2

OLDER  WHO  IS RELATED BY BLOOD, ADOPTION OR MARRIAGE TO A STATE OFFICER
OR EMPLOYEE.
  2.  EVERY  OFFICER  OR EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE WHO HAS BEEN EMPLOYED FOR
MORE THAN SIX CONSECUTIVE PAYROLL PERIODS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A MAXIMUM
OF THIRTY DAYS PAID LEAVE TO CARE FOR A PARENT OR ELDER RELATIVE WITH AN
ILLNESS, INJURY,  IMPAIRMENT,  OR  PHYSICAL  OR  MENTAL  CONDITION  THAT
INVOLVES  INPATIENT CARE IN A HOSPITAL, HOSPICE, RESIDENTIAL HEALTH CARE
FACILITY, OR CONTINUING  TREATMENT  OR  SUPERVISION  BY  A  HEALTH  CARE
PROVIDER.
  3.  LEAVE  GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE CHARGED AGAINST ANY
OTHER LEAVE THAT A STATE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE IS OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO.
  4. THE PRESIDENT IS HEREBY EMPOWERED TO ESTABLISH SUCH RULES OR  REGU-
LATIONS  AS  MAY  BE  REQUIRED  FOR THE EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS
SECTION.
  S 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
have become a law.