Relates to family leave

This bill amends New York's workers' compensation law to prevent employers from requiring employees to use paid time off before taking family leave. It expands the definition of "family leave" to include situations where an employee's family member (spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent) is on active military duty within the U.S. (including contiguous states, Hawaii, Alaska, or territories). The law directly affects employees needing leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition, bond with a newborn/adopted child, or address military-related exigencies. The policy change takes effect immediately, ensuring employees can access family leave without exhausting other accrued time first.