§ 159-a. Disability program. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or
regulation to the contrary, where an agreement between the state and an
employee organization entered into pursuant to article fourteen of this
chapter so provides on behalf of employees in positions serving in the
collective negotiating unit created by chapter four hundred three of the
laws of nineteen hundred eighty-three, the director of employee
relations is authorized to establish and implement a disability program
that will provide long term income protection for such employees and the
president is empowered to establish regulations to effect such
implementation. No regulation shall be adopted, repealed or amended, and
no other action taken with respect to such employees or such
implementation without the approval of the director of employee
relations. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the
contrary, any employee who participates in or is covered by a disability
program authorized by this section shall receive retirement service
credit not to exceed six months during the period that he or she is
receiving the short term disability benefit under such program on the
same basis and at the same rate as such employee would receive such
credit were he or she on sick leave at half pay for the period of time
for which such employee would have been entitled to such sick leave at
half pay had the sick leave policy supplemented by the short term
disability program remained in effect.