New York Assembly Bill A01202

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/25
• Refer: 1/9/25
• Refer: 1/7/26
• Report Pass: 1/12/26

Caption

Relates to use of accrued sick time, compensation time or vacation time.

Impact

The introduction of A01202 could significantly alter the landscape for how public employees in New York manage their sick and vacation time during uncertain periods following workplace injuries. Should the bill pass, it would bring specific changes to current policies that might require employees to exhaust their accrued time off before asserting their rights to workers' compensation benefits. Additionally, the bill emphasizes an employee's entitlement to the full restoration of any time utilized if their claim is upheld, which adds a layer of security for workers navigating the claims process.

Summary

Bill A01202 seeks to amend the civil service law by allowing public employees in New York to use accrued sick time, compensation time, or vacation time during mandated waiting periods following a workers' compensation claim or during periods of claim controversion. This is aimed at providing financial relief to employees who are not receiving indemnity benefits while waiting for their claims to be processed or while any disputes regarding their claims are resolved. Under this proposed law, employees would have the option to utilize their accrued time without the risk of losing it if it is later determined that they were entitled to benefits during the waiting period.

Contention

Despite its seemingly benevolent intent, A01202 may lead to contention, particularly concerning its interaction with existing collective bargaining agreements. The bill stipulates that the provisions do not apply to employees covered by such agreements unless their bargaining units opt into these provisions. This could potentially create disparities between employees represented under collective agreements and those who are not, igniting debates about equity and fairness. Furthermore, some stakeholders might argue that this bill places an undue burden on employers, who may struggle to manage workforce attendance amidst varying claims statuses and employee use of accrued time.