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ALBANY - Governor Cuomo signed a law last week that will enhance job security for public employees serving in the military.
The new law, which was authored by Assemblyman Robert Castelli of the 89th Assembly District, which includes Lewisboro and Pound Ridge, amends the Civil Service Law and the Military Law to prohibit public employers from abolishing positions based on a person's military status. Under the measure, public employers are mandated to comply with the Federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA) of 1994, and public employers are expressly prohibited from denying employment, employment benefits, or re-employment rights to any person or prospective employee based on past or current military service.
“I am pleased that Governor Cuomo has signed this important piece of legislation, protecting our State’s Guard, and Reserve military personnel from employment discrimination while activated in the service of their Country,” Castelli said. “I’m grateful to Senator [Greg] Ball for his tireless efforts on behalf of all veterans in the New York State Senate.”
Ball is chairman of the New York State Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs.
“The last thing a deploying soldier should have to worry about is whether he or she has a job when they come home,” Ball said.
Castelli agreed, saying the new law will help protect service members’ job while they are on deployment.
Joe Barry, chairman of the Legislative Committee for the American Legion, Department of the New York, said the bill corrects inequities in the system.
“[The bill] honors the sacrifices made by our reservists who are being re-deployed to active duty and find out they are at some risk of losing their job when they are three to four thousand miles away,” he said.
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