25.0713.02000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota Introduced by Representatives Foss, Bahl, Finley-DeVille Senator Braunberger A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 54-03-27 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to leaves of absence from employment for members of the legislative assembly. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA: SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 54-03-27 of the North Dakota Century Code is amended and reenacted as follows: 54-03-27. Service in the legislative assembly - Leave of absence from employment. The executive officer in charge of a state agency, department, or institution or the governing body of any political subdivision or any other employer in this state may 1.In this section, "employer" means any person that pays salary or wages for work performed. 2.At an employee's request, an employer shall grant a leave of absence from employment to a full-time employee of that governmental entity or of that employer who is a member of the legislative assembly for service during any regular or special session of the legislative assembly and for attendance at a meeting of the legislative management or any of its committees. 3.The leave of absence may be without pay, and the employer may reduce or eliminate the payment of any additional benefits normally due the employee while the employee is performing legislative service. If the leave of absence is granted, the employerbut the employer shall employ the employee in the same position, without loss of status or seniority, and with equivalent pay and accumulation of benefits, including retirement and leave benefits, following the leave of absence as the employee had before the leave of absence. Page No. 1 25.0713.02000 HOUSE BILL NO. 1495 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly 4.An employer may not terminate or threaten to terminate the employment of an employee solely due to the fact that the employee is absentemployee's absence from employment as the result of service in the legislative assembly. 5.An employer may not discriminate against an employee solely due to the employee being a candidate in an election for a seat in the legislative assembly. Page No. 2 25.0713.02000 1 2 3 4 5