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S 9217

Authorizes additional paid leave for public employees who are absent on military duty

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

S 9217 increases paid leave for NY public employees on military duty to up to 60 days per year or per continuous absence (52 workdays), effective immediately.

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
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Bill Summary · S 9217

Bill Summary: S 9217 (2025-2026) – Authorizes Additional Paid Leave for Public Employees Absent on Military Duty

Basic Information

  • Jurisdiction: New York
  • Bill Number: S 9217
  • Session: 2025-2026
  • Introduced by: Sen. Scarcella-Spanton
  • Committee Status: Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs (Feb 17, 2026); reported and committed to Finance (Apr 28, 2026)
  • Effective Date: Immediate

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill amends the Military Law to adjust the amount of paid leave available to public officers or employees who are absent due to ordered military duty. It intends to provide more paid leave time for such individuals, aligning or increasing current entitlements.

Key Provisions

  • Amendment to Salary Continuation for Military Duty:
    • The statute currently ensures paid salary or compensation for periods of ordered military duty and travel to/from duty, subject to annual and continuous-period caps.
    • The bill modifies the caps on paid leave:
    • Annual cap: Increases from 30 days (or 22 working days) to 60 days in any one calendar year, or 52 working days, whichever is greater.
    • Continuous period cap: Increases from 30 days (or 22 working days) to 60 days in any one continuous period of absence, or 52 working days, whichever is greater.
    • The language trims original brackets and certain numbers, resulting in a broader entitlement.
  • Effective Date: The changes take effect immediately upon enactment.

Who Is Affected

  • Public officers and public employees who are absent on ordered military duty (including periods of travel to and from duty) in New York.
  • The change increases the paid leave protection for these employees, potentially impacting payroll administration, leave accounting, and related human resources policies for agencies and municipalities employing public workers.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and Referral: February 17, 2026, referred to the Senate committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs.
  • Subsequent Action: As of April 28, 2026, the bill has been reported and committed to the Finance Committee, indicating progression toward potential floor consideration and possible appropriations considerations.
  • Effective Date: Immediate upon enactment (no future phased rollout).

Practical Implications

  • Payroll and Benefits Impact: Agencies must adjust payroll systems to accommodate up to 60 days of paid leave per calendar year and up to 60 days in a single continuous period for employees on military duty.
  • Administrative Considerations: Potential need to update administrative policies, collective bargaining agreements where applicable, and employee handbooks to reflect new entitlements.
  • Workforce Impact: Provides greater income continuity for public employees serving in the military, potentially reducing financial strain during longer deployments.

Summary

S 9217 expands the scope of paid leave for New York public employees on ordered military duty by increasing both the annual and continuous-absence caps from prior levels (30 days/22 working days annually and 30 days/22 working days per continuous period) to up to 60 days (52 working days) in both scenarios, with immediate effectiveness upon enactment. The bill aims to strengthen financial stability for service members while maintaining their earnings during military obligations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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