NOW - NEW YORK STATE SUPPORT MEMO
A-02673 (Blick) - Domestic Partnership / Sick Leave
March 2005
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NOW-NYS, Inc. supports A-02673, which allows employees to provide care to immediate families, household members or domestic partners using accrued and available sick time.
Some employees are already allowed to use their sick leave to care for immediate family members and this legislation would expand the right to all employees who work for an employer with fifty or more employees. This legislation explicitly includes domestic partners in recognition of their important role in the furtherance of caring, committed family relationships. To not include domestic partners would be discriminatory on the basis of sexual orientation and marital status. Equal protection and rights under the Family Medical Leave Act is vital to ensure that all employees are able to provide the necessary care to sustain their family relationships.
This act defines a “domestic partner” not only as a person formally recognized in a domestic partnership by federal, state or local law but as a person “dependent or mutually interdependent on the other person for support” as determined by certain conditions. This recognition is important in advancing the rights of New York State citizens.
The National Organization for Women - New York State, Inc. urges the NYS Legislature to support this bill and allow for employees the ability to further provide care for family, household members and domestic partners.
Marcia A. Pappas, President, NOW-NYS, Inc.
Lori Gardner, Executive VP
Barbara Kirkpatrick, Legislative Vice President
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