Section 151. Leaves of absence for participation in certain athletic competitions

1. For purposes of this section:    (a) The term "public employee" means any person holding a position  by
  appointment or employment in the service of a public employer.
    (b) The term "public employer" means (i) the state of New York, (ii) a
  county,  city, town, village or any other political subdivision or civil
  division of the state, (iii)  a  school  district  or  any  governmental
  entity  operating  a public school, college or university, (iv) a public
  improvement or special district, (v) a public authority, commission,  or
  public benefit corporation, or (vi) any other public corporation, agency
  or  instrumentality  or  unit of government which exercises governmental
  powers under the laws of the state.
    (c) The term "team" means any group leader, coach, official or athlete
  who comprises the official delegation of the United States to world, Pan
  American or Olympic competition.
    2. A public employee who qualifies as a member of a United States team
  for athletic competition on the world, Pan American or Olympic level, in
  a sport contested in either Pan American or Olympic competitions,  shall
  at  the  discretion of the public employer be granted a leave of absence
  from  employment  without  loss  of  pay  or  diminution  of  any  other
  privilege,  benefit  or  right  arising  out  of  such employment and in
  accordance with the provisions of this section.
    3. Such leave shall be available only for the purpose of preparing for
  and engaging in either or both such competitions and in no  event  shall
  the  total  of  all  such  leave granted to a public employee exceed the
  period of the official training camp and competition combined or  ninety
  calendar days a year, whichever is less.
    4.  The  electing  public employer shall pay at the employee's regular
  rate of pay for each week of leave granted in the  amount  the  employee
  would  receive  for  a  standard  work  week.  The employee shall not be
  entitled  to  receive  compensation  for  any  day  spent  in  camp   or
  competition for which compensation would not ordinarily be paid.
    5.  The  president  of  the  civil service commission shall promulgate
  appropriate  rules  necessary  to  effectuate  the  provisions  of  this
  section.