BILL NUMBER: S9245
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to a period of paid leave for
preventative health care measures
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Establishes paid leave of 4 hours per year for all employees in New York
State to receive preventative health care
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Labor Law Section 202-m to require all employers in New
York State to grant employees 4 hours of leave per year to undergo
preventative health care measures. Section 2 outlines employee
protections from retaliation for use of such time. Section 3 further
outlines employee protections. Section 4 authorizes the Commissioner of
Labor to establish any necessary guidelines and requirements for timely
implementation of the program.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The New York State Master Plan for Aging recommended 126 proposals to
prepare New York State to serve an ever-growing aging population.
Proposal 92 of the MPA calls for the establishment of paid time off for
preventative health care visits. About a third of American adults see a
health care provider for an annual physical, an appointment meant to
engage in preventative health care. However, physicals can include cost-
ly examinations and tests, and medical professionals argue that a visit
with a focus on establishing relationships, medical history, social
situations, and health risk assessments may provide improved engagement
with preventative health care. Existing Civil Service Law provides time
for cancer screening to prevent cancer for public employees but does not
apply to nonpublic employees. All employees in New York State should
receive sufficient paid time off to engage in annual preventative and
colon cancer prevention health care.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately