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.