Res 1095-2019

By Council Member Treyger Whereas, No category of paid medical leave currently exists for employees of New York City who wish to donate an organ; and Whereas, Employees that donate an organ must, at the present time, use personal vacation and sick time for organ donation preparation and recovery; and Whereas, Under state law, employees of the state are allowed up to 30 days paid leave to serve as an organ donor; and Whereas, On November 5, 2018, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the Living Donor Protection Act, which requires all employers in New York State to cover organ transplantation preparation and recovery under paid family leave; and Whereas, Those who work for New York City and wish to donate an organ to someone other than a family member are not covered by the Living Donor Protection Act; and Whereas, Having to use personal vacation and sick time for organ transplantation can serve as a barrier to city employees who might otherwise consider donating, and deprives those in need of a donor; and Whereas, Over 113,000 men, women, and children were on the national transplant waiting list as of January 2019, and 20 people die each day waiting for a transplant, according to the Federal Health Resources & Services Administration; and Whereas, Affording paid medical leave for organ donation to city employees would remove financial barriers for those concerned about using personal leave, and would hold the potential to save thousands of lives; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Mayor of the City of New York to provide paid medical leave for organ donation to all New York City employees through executive action and union negotiations. LS #10971 10/16/2019 1:18 PM M.T.