NY S04255

First responders (firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel) employed by the state, public authorities, or municipal corporations diagnosed with PTSD by a licensed psychiatrist may request line of duty sick leave retroactive to their diagnosis date.

Affected employees receive compensation at their regular rate of pay for work hours missed due to PTSD without losing accrued sick leave or vacation time.

Employers are prohibited from taking adverse personnel actions (discipline, discharge, suspension, demotion, penalization, or discrimination) against first responders for utilizing or requesting PTSD-related sick leave.

The state shall reimburse public authorities and municipal corporations with populations under one million for costs of line of duty sick leave granted under this act.

The act takes effect immediately and provides retroactive sick leave restoration to currently employed first responders diagnosed with PTSD who have been using sick leave for this condition.