A 1202 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

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

This bill allows public employees in New York (including state, county, school district, and retirement system workers) to use accrued sick, vacation, or personal time during waiting periods for workers' compensation benefits or when their claim is disputed. Employers cannot force employees to use this time during such periods, and if an employee later qualifies for benefits, they get their used time fully restored. The law does not apply to employees covered by collective bargaining agreements unless their union specifically opts in to these provisions. It preserves existing collective bargaining rights while ensuring employees don't lose accrued time during workers' comp processing delays.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
Assembly Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2025 Last action Jun 1, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

A1202 A1202A · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill amends the Civil Service Law to clarify that employees can use accrued sick, compensation, or vacation time during mandatory workers' compensation waiting periods. It explicitly adds that employers cannot force employees to use this time during such periods and specifies that the waiting period is governed by section twelve of the workers' compensation law.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on public sector employees eligible for workers' compensation, but it clarifies the specific legal section governing the waiting period and removes a reference to community colleges from the list of eligible entities.
REQUIREMENT

The bill now explicitly states that an employer shall not require an employee to utilize accrued time during a waiting period or period of controversion, strengthening employee protections.

DEFINITION

The specific legal authority for the waiting period was updated from a general workers' compensation law reference to 'section twelve of the workers' compensation law' for greater precision.

SCOPE

The specific enumeration of 'community college' as a distinct eligible entity was removed from the list of covered employers, though the general category of public employers likely still applies.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 1, 2026 · Assembly May 13, 2026

How they voted

600
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 63
Jun 1, 2026
D Democratic41
38 Yea 3
92% Yea
R Republican22
22 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
13
Key actions
4
Committee
3
Amendments
2
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
May 13, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
upper
May 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED ASSEMBLY
lower
Jan 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 1202A
lower
Jan 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
lower
Jan 9, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
lower
1 primary · 11 co-sponsors

Sponsors