S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6898--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
October 4, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sens. GOLDEN, GALLIVAN, KAMINSKY -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules --
recommitted to the Committee on Local Government in accordance with
Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law and the administrative code of
the city of New York, in relation to sick leave for officers and
employees with a qualifying World Trade Center condition; to amend the
civil service law, in relation to the review of certain claims; and to
amend chapter 273 of the laws of 2017 amending the general municipal
law, relating to granting sick leave for officers and employees with a
qualifying World Trade Center condition, in relation to the reimburse-
ment of any public authority or municipal corporation in a city with a
population of less than one million people for the cost of certain
line of duty sick leave
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 92-d of the general municipal law, as added by
chapter 273 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
§ 92-d. Sick leave for officers and employees with a qualifying World
Trade Center condition. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regu-
lation to the contrary, officers and employees of the state, a public
authority or any municipal corporation outside of a city with a popu-
lation of one million or more who [filed a] HAS FILED AND RECEIVED
APPROVAL FOR HIS OR HER notice of participation in World Trade Center
rescue, recovery or cleanup operations and subsequently [develop] DEVEL-
OPS a qualifying World Trade Center condition, as defined in section two
of the retirement and social security law, while employed by the state,
a public authority or [such] A municipal corporation [or public authori-
ty] shall be granted line of duty sick leave commencing on the date that
such employee was diagnosed with a qualifying World Trade Center condi-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13574-06-8
S. 6898--A 2
tion regardless of whether such officer or employee was employed by his
or her current employer at the time that such officer or employee
participated in World Trade Center rescue, recovery or cleanup oper-
ations, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, NO OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE SHALL RECEIVE LINE OF
DUTY SICK LEAVE FOR ANY DATE PRIOR TO THE FIRST DATE THAT HE OR SHE
ENGAGED IN RESCUE, RECOVERY OR CLEANUP OPERATIONS. The officer or
employee shall be compensated at his or her regular rate of pay for
those regular work hours during which the officer or employee is absent
from work DUE TO HIS OR HER QUALIFYING WORLD TRADE CENTER CONDITION.
Such leave shall be provided without loss of an officer or employee's
accrued sick leave. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL LIMIT AN EMPLOYER'S
POWER PURSUANT TO ANOTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO DISCIPLINE AN OFFICER OR
EMPLOYEE BY TERMINATION, REDUCTION OF SALARY, OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE
MEASURE; TO TERMINATE AN APPOINTEE WHO HAS NOT COMPLETED HIS OR HER
PROBATIONARY TERM; AND TO APPLY FOR ORDINARY OR ACCIDENT DISABILITY
RETIREMENT FOR AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.
§ 2. The first undesignated paragraph of section 92-d of the general
municipal law is designated subdivision 1 and seven new subdivisions 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are added to read as follows:
2. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY,
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR
MORE WHO (I) DO NOT RECEIVE BENEFITS SIMILAR TO THOSE PROVIDED BY THIS
SECTION PURSUANT TO A COLLECTIVELY BARGAINED AGREEMENT, SECTION 14-122.1
OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, SECTION 15-108.1 OF
THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, OR OTHER STATUTORY
PROVISION AND (II) HAVE FILED AND RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR HIS OR HER
NOTICE OF PARTICIPATION IN WORLD TRADE CENTER RESCUE, RECOVERY OR CLEAN-
UP OPERATIONS AND SUBSEQUENTLY DEVELOPS A QUALIFYING WORLD TRADE CENTER
CONDITION, AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWO OF THE RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL SECU-
RITY LAW, WHILE EMPLOYED BY SUCH MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, OR THE STATE, A
PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OUTSIDE OF A CITY WITH A POPU-
LATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE SHALL BE GRANTED LINE OF DUTY SICK LEAVE
COMMENCING ON THE DATE THAT SUCH EMPLOYEE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A QUALIFY-
ING WORLD TRADE CENTER CONDITION REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH OFFICER OR
EMPLOYEE WAS EMPLOYED BY HIS OR HER CURRENT EMPLOYER AT THE TIME THAT
SUCH OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATED IN WORLD TRADE CENTER RESCUE,
RECOVERY OR CLEANUP OPERATIONS, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, NO OFFICER OR EMPLOY-
EE SHALL RECEIVE LINE OF DUTY SICK LEAVE FOR ANY DATE PRIOR TO THE FIRST
DATE THAT HE OR SHE ENGAGED IN RESCUE, RECOVERY OR CLEAN UP OPERATIONS.
THE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE SHALL BE COMPENSATED AT HIS OR HER REGULAR RATE
OF PAY FOR THOSE REGULAR WORK HOURS DURING WHICH THE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
IS ABSENT FROM WORK DUE TO HIS OR HER QUALIFYING WORLD TRADE CENTER
CONDITION. SUCH LEAVE SHALL BE PROVIDED WITHOUT LOSS OF AN OFFICER OR
EMPLOYEE'S ACCRUED SICK LEAVE. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL LIMIT AN
EMPLOYER'S POWER PURSUANT TO ANOTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO DISCIPLINE AN
OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE BY TERMINATION, REDUCTION OF SALARY, OR ANY OTHER
APPROPRIATE MEASURE; TO TERMINATE AN APPOINTEE WHO HAS NOT COMPLETED HIS
OR HER PROBATIONARY TERM; AND TO APPLY FOR ORDINARY OR ACCIDENT DISABIL-
ITY RETIREMENT FOR AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.
3. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "COST" SHALL MEAN THE NUMBER OF DAYS
OF SICK LEAVE THAT MUST BE RESTORED TO AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE PURSUANT
TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION MULTIPLIED BY SUCH OFFICER OR EMPLOY-
EE'S WAGE RATE AT THE TIME THAT SUCH SICK LEAVE FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT
IS BEING SOUGHT WAS TAKEN. "COST" SHALL NOT INCLUDE ANY SICK TIME TAKEN
BY AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE BEFORE SUCH OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE FILED HIS OR
S. 6898--A 3
HER NOTICE OF PARTICIPATION IN WORLD TRADE CENTER RESCUE, RECOVERY OR
CLEANUP OPERATIONS.
4. THE APPLICATION FOR LINE OF DUTY SICK LEAVE SHALL INCLUDE A WAIVER
OF THE PROTECTION AFFORDED TO THE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE PURSUANT TO THE
HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF
REVIEWING, PROCESSING AND AUDITING HIS OR HER CLAIM FOR LINE OF DUTY
SICK LEAVE. AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE FILING AN APPLICATION FOR LINE OF
DUTY SICK LEAVE SHALL FILE SUCH WAIVER IN THE FORM REQUIRED BY THE
RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF WHICH HE OR SHE IS A MEMBER, ALONG WITH THE APPLI-
CATION FOR LINE OF DUTY SICK LEAVE, WITH HIS OR HER EMPLOYER.
5. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, UPON REQUEST
FROM THE STATE, PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OUTSIDE OF A
CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE FOR A COPY OF AN APPROVED
NOTICE OF PARTICIPATION IN WORLD TRADE CENTER RESCUE, RECOVERY OR CLEAN-
UP OPERATIONS FOR AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE, THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM IN WHICH
SUCH OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE IS A MEMBER AND TO WHICH SUCH OFFICER OR
EMPLOYEE FILED HIS OR HER NOTICE OF PARTICIPATION IN WORLD TRADE CENTER
RESCUE, RECOVERY OR CLEANUP OPERATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH (A)
OF SUBDIVISION THIRTY-SIX OF SECTION TWO OF THE RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL
SECURITY LAW, SUCH RETIREMENT SYSTEM SHALL PROVIDE A VERIFIED COPY OF
SUCH APPROVED NOTICE OF PARTICIPATION THAT INCLUDES THE DATE THAT SUCH
NOTICE WAS FILED TO SUCH REQUESTOR. A COPY OF SUCH VERIFIED NOTICE OF
PARTICIPATION SHALL BE FILED WITH ANY CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT SUBMITTED
TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS
SECTION. EXCEPT AS REQUIRED FOR FILING, REVIEW, AND AUDIT PURPOSES, SUCH
VERIFIED NOTICE OF PARTICIPATION AND ALL COPIES OF SUCH VERIFIED NOTICE
SHALL BE CONFIDENTIAL AND NOT SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE
SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
6. SUCH PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SHALL SUBMIT ANY
CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THIS SECTION TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMIS-
SION. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION ONE-A OF SECTION SIX OF THE CIVIL
SERVICE LAW, THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION SHALL REVIEW EACH CLAIM TO
DETERMINE IF SUCH CLAIM SHALL BE APPROVED, REDUCED, AMENDED OR REJECTED
AND SHALL NOTIFY SUCH PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, WITHIN
SIXTY DAYS OF RECEIPT OF SUCH CLAIM, AS TO ITS DETERMINATION. SUCH
PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SHALL NOTIFY THE CIVIL SERVICE
COMMISSION WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMIS-
SION'S NOTIFICATION, AS TO ITS ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF SUCH DETERMI-
NATION. FAILURE TO SO NOTIFY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION SHALL CONSTI-
TUTE AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE DETERMINATION. IF ACCEPTED BY SUCH PUBLIC
AUTHORITY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, SUCH ACCEPTANCE SHALL CONSTITUTE THE
FINAL AND CONCLUSIVE DETERMINATION FOR SUCH CLAIM. IF REJECTED BY SUCH
PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, SUCH PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION SHALL RESUBMIT ITS CLAIM, WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER
RECEIPT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION'S NOTIFICATION, TOGETHER WITH
ITS REASONS FOR OBJECTION AND ANY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION WHICH MAY
JUSTIFY ITS CLAIM. UPON RECEIPT OF A RESUBMITTED CLAIM, THE CIVIL
SERVICE COMMISSION SHALL REVIEW SUCH CLAIM AND WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF
RECEIPT OF SUCH RESUBMITTED CLAIM, MAKE A FINAL DETERMINATION AS TO THE
AMOUNT TO BE APPROVED FOR SUCH CLAIM. IF SUCH PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR MUNIC-
IPAL CORPORATION SHALL DISPUTE SUCH FINAL DETERMINATION IT MAY COMMENCE
AN ACTION, WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF SUCH FINAL DETERMINATION, IN THE COURT
OF CLAIMS WHICH SHALL HAVE JURISDICTION TO ADJUDICATE THE CLAIM AND
ENTER JUDGMENT, WHICH JUDGMENT SHALL BE A FINAL DETERMINATION FOR
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION AND SHALL BE PAYABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS THREE AND FOUR OF THIS CHAPTER.
S. 6898--A 4
7. THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION SHALL CERTIFY ALL CLAIMS FOR WHICH A
FINAL DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE. THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION SHALL
SUBMIT ALL CLAIMS CERTIFIED TO THE COMPTROLLER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
AUDIT AND CONTROL ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF THE IMMEDIATELY SUCCEED-
ING MONTH DURING WHICH SUCH CLAIM WAS CERTIFIED.
8. ALL CLAIMS CERTIFIED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION SHALL BE PAID
MONTHLY AND SHALL BE PAID UPON A WARRANT FROM THE COMPTROLLER.
§ 3. Section 6 of the civil service law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 1-a to read as follows:
1-A. HAVE THE POWER TO REVIEW CLAIMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT SUBMITTED BY
PUBLIC AUTHORITIES OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS OUTSIDE OF A CITY WITH A
POPULATION OF A MILLION OR MORE PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-TWO-D OF THE
GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW TO DETERMINE IF SUCH CLAIM SHALL BE APPROVED,
REDUCED, AMENDED OR REJECTED. SUCH REVIEW AND DETERMINATION SHALL BE
MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION NINETY-TWO-D OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL
LAW.
§ 4. Section 2 of chapter 273 of the laws of 2017, amending the gener-
al municipal law relating to granting sick leave for officers and
employees with a qualifying World Trade Center condition, is amended to
read as follows:
§ 2. The state shall reimburse any public authority or municipal
corporation IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION of less than one million people
for the cost of any line duty sick leave granted pursuant to this act.
SUCH REIMBURSEMENT SHALL BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF
SECTION 92-D OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW.
§ 5. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by
adding a new section 12-140 to read as follows:
§ 12-140 NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE
CONTRARY, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE
MILLION OR MORE WHO (I) DO NOT RECEIVE BENEFITS SIMILAR TO THOSE
PROVIDED BY THIS SECTION PURSUANT TO A COLLECTIVELY BARGAINED AGREEMENT,
SECTION 14-122.1 OF THIS CODE, SECTION 15-108.1 OF THIS CODE, OR OTHER
STATUTORY PROVISION AND (II) FILED A NOTICE OF PARTICIPATION IN WORLD
TRADE CENTER RESCUE, RECOVERY OR CLEANUP OPERATIONS AND SUBSEQUENTLY
DEVELOP A QUALIFYING WORLD TRADE CENTER CONDITION, AS DEFINED IN SECTION
TWO OF THE RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY LAW, WHOLE EMPLOYED BY SUCH
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, OR THE STATE, A PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR MUNICIPAL
CORPORATION OUTSIDE OF A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE
SHALL BE GRANTED LINE OF DUTY SICK LEAVE COMMENCING ON THE DATE THAT
SUCH EMPLOYEE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A QUALIFYING WORLD TRADE CENTER CONDI-
TION REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE WAS EMPLOYED BY HIS
OR HER CURRENT EMPLOYER AT THE TIME THAT SUCH OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
PARTICIPATED IN WORLD TRADE CENTER RESCUE, RECOVERY OR CLEANUP OPER-
ATIONS. THE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE SHALL BE COMPENSATED AT HIS OR HER REGU-
LAR RATE OF PAY FOR THOSE REGULAR WORK HOURS DURING WHICH THE OFFICER OR
EMPLOYEE IS ABSENT FROM WORK. SUCH LEAVE SHALL BE PROVIDED WITHOUT LOSS
OF AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE'S ACCRUED SICK LEAVE. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION
SHALL LIMIT AN EMPLOYER'S POWER PURSUANT TO ANOTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO
DISCIPLINE AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE BY TERMINATION, REDUCTION OF SALARY,
OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE MEASURE; TO TERMINATE AN APPOINTEE WHO HAS NOT
COMPLETED HIS OR HER PROBATIONARY TERM; AND TO APPLY FOR ORDINARY OR
ACCIDENT DISABILITY RETIREMENT FOR AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.
§ 6. The commissioner of the department of civil service, in consulta-
tion with the state comptroller and the commissioner of the department
of taxation and finance, shall issue guidance and/or promulgate regu-
lations to assist with the implementation of section 92-d of the general
S. 6898--A 5
municipal law. Such guidance and/or regulations shall include, among
other things, the tax treatment to officers and employees who have
received restored sick leave. Such guidance and/or regulations shall be
issued no later than 60 days, and 90 days, respectively, after this act
shall become effective. Notwithstanding any other provisions to the
contrary in the state administrative procedure act, such rules and regu-
lations may be adopted on an emergency basis if necessary to meet such
90-day deadline.
§ 7. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that section one
of this act shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on the
same date as chapter 273 of the laws of 2017; and provided further that
this act shall apply to all claims for reimbursement filed pursuant to
section 92-d of the general municipal law, as amended by this act; and
provided further, that any officer or employee who is currently employed
by a city with a population of one million or more who has been diag-
nosed with a qualifying World Trade Center condition and is using sick
leave due to such condition shall receive a restoration of such sick
leave retroactive to the date such officer or employee was diagnosed
with a qualifying World Trade Center condition.
