N.Y. Civil Service Law § 159-a: Disability program

§ 159-a. Disability program. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or

regulation to the contrary, where an agreement between the state and an

employee organization entered into pursuant to article fourteen of this

chapter so provides on behalf of employees in positions serving in the

collective negotiating unit created by chapter four hundred three of the

laws of nineteen hundred eighty-three, the director of employee

relations is authorized to establish and implement a disability program

that will provide long term income protection for such employees and the

president is empowered to establish regulations to effect such

implementation. No regulation shall be adopted, repealed or amended, and

no other action taken with respect to such employees or such

implementation without the approval of the director of employee

relations. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the

contrary, any employee who participates in or is covered by a disability

program authorized by this section shall receive retirement service

credit not to exceed six months during the period that he or she is

receiving the short term disability benefit under such program on the

same basis and at the same rate as such employee would receive such

credit were he or she on sick leave at half pay for the period of time

for which such employee would have been entitled to such sick leave at

half pay had the sick leave policy supplemented by the short term

disability program remained in effect.