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 No regulation shall be adopted, repealed or amended, and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