[HISTORY: Adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature as indicated
in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable. Uncodified
sections of local laws amending these provisions are included as an
attachment to this chapter.]
[Adopted 6-9-2020 by L.L.
No. 20-2020]
A.Â
This Legislature hereby finds and determines that Suffolk County
employs many individuals who are both civil servants and military
reservists and has the largest population of veterans in New York
State. This Legislature also finds and determines that New York State
Military Law § 242(5) now authorizes local governments to
extend a new benefit to military reservists who are employees or officers
and become activated for combat service. This Legislature further
finds and determines that New York State Military Law § 242(5)(c)
allows local governments to authorize the provision of five additional
days of paid sick leave each calendar year to public employees who
are activated from the military reserves and need such time to address
health concerns arising from their combat service. This Legislature
hereby finds and determines that these recent amendments to New York
State Military Law § 242(5)(c) became effective on March
10, 2020. This Legislature determines that opting in to New York State
Military Law § 242(5)(c) would be beneficial to reservists
who are employees or public officials of Suffolk County government
and provides another means for the County to support those employees
who volunteer to protect this nation.
B.Â
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to authorize the implementation
of New York State Military Law § 242(5)(c) for employees
and officers of Suffolk County.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Every person, by whatsoever title, description or designation
known, who receives any pay, salary or compensation of any kind from
the County of Suffolk, but shall not include a person holding a position
in the exempt class of the civil service whose appointment is terminated
or whose position is filled by other than a substitute appointee.
A.Â
Every public officer or employee who has served in a combat theater
or combat zone of operations as documented by a copy of his or her
DD214, certificate of release or discharge from active duty, or other
applicable Department of Defense documentation, shall be entitled
to additional paid leave for health-related services related to duty
in a combat theater or combat zone of operations, not to exceed five
working days in any one calendar year.
B.Â
Nothing in this article shall be construed to diminish the rights,
privileges, or remedies of any employee under any collective bargaining
agreement.
This article shall apply to all combat theater veterans and
combat zone of operations veterans employed by Suffolk County during
the time of their military deployment on or after the effective date
of this article.
This article shall take effect on January 1, 2021.
