Section 82-A. Authorized absence

1. During the time that a state emergency
  exists following a declaration of such  emergency  pursuant  to  section
  twenty-eight  of  the executive law, every public officer or employee of
  this state may request an authorized absence from his or her  duties  or
  service  as  such public officer or employee while engaged in the actual
  performance of his or her duties as, (a) a volunteer firefighter, or (b)
  an enrolled member of a volunteer ambulance service pursuant to  article
  thirty of the public health law.
    2.  Requests  for  such  authorized  absence  shall be approved by the
  appropriate supervisor  to  the  extent  that  such  absence  would  not
  interfere with proper conduct of governmental functions.
    3.  As used in this section, the term public officer or employee shall
  not include officers or employees of municipalities or  other  political
  subdivisions of the state.
    4.  The  entire  period  of the authorized absence granted pursuant to
  this section shall be excused leave and shall not be charged against any
  other leave such public officer or employee is  otherwise  entitled  to,
  and  such  authorized absence shall include travel both to and from such
  duties performed in his or her capacity as a volunteer.
    5. As used in this section, the term agency shall mean any department,
  board, bureau,  commission,  division,  office,  council,  committee  or
  office of the state, a public benefit corporation or public authority at
  least one of whose members is appointed by the governor.