§ 82-a. Authorized absence. 1. During the time that a state emergency
exists following a declaration of such emergency pursuant to section
twenty-eight of the executive law, every public officer or employee of
this state may request an authorized absence from his or her duties or
service as such public officer or employee while engaged in the actual
performance of his or her duties as, (a) a volunteer firefighter, or (b)
an enrolled member of a volunteer ambulance service pursuant to article
thirty of the public health law.

2. Requests for such authorized absence shall be approved by the
appropriate supervisor to the extent that such absence would not
interfere with proper conduct of governmental functions.

3. As used in this section, the term public officer or employee shall
not include officers or employees of municipalities or other political
subdivisions of the state.

4. The entire period of the authorized absence granted pursuant to
this section shall be excused leave and shall not be charged against any
other leave such public officer or employee is otherwise entitled to,
and such authorized absence shall include travel both to and from such
duties performed in his or her capacity as a volunteer.

5. As used in this section, the term agency shall mean any department,
board, bureau, commission, division, office, council, committee or
office of the state, a public benefit corporation or public authority at
least one of whose members is appointed by the governor.