§ 151. Leaves of absence for participation in certain athletic
competitions. 1. For purposes of this section:

(a) The term "public employee" means any person holding a position by
appointment or employment in the service of a public employer.

(b) The term "public employer" means (i) the state of New York, (ii) a
county, city, town, village or any other political subdivision or civil
division of the state, (iii) a school district or any governmental
entity operating a public school, college or university, (iv) a public
improvement or special district, (v) a public authority, commission, or
public benefit corporation, or (vi) any other public corporation, agency
or instrumentality or unit of government which exercises governmental
powers under the laws of the state.

(c) The term "team" means any group leader, coach, official or athlete
who comprises the official delegation of the United States to world, Pan
American or Olympic competition.

2. A public employee who qualifies as a member of a United States team
for athletic competition on the world, Pan American or Olympic level, in
a sport contested in either Pan American or Olympic competitions, shall
at the discretion of the public employer be granted a leave of absence
from employment without loss of pay or diminution of any other
privilege, benefit or right arising out of such employment and in
accordance with the provisions of this section.

3. Such leave shall be available only for the purpose of preparing for
and engaging in either or both such competitions and in no event shall
the total of all such leave granted to a public employee exceed the
period of the official training camp and competition combined or ninety
calendar days a year, whichever is less.

4. The electing public employer shall pay at the employee's regular
rate of pay for each week of leave granted in the amount the employee
would receive for a standard work week. The employee shall not be
entitled to receive compensation for any day spent in camp or
competition for which compensation would not ordinarily be paid.

5. The president of the civil service commission shall promulgate
appropriate rules necessary to effectuate the provisions of this
section.