Oklahoma House Bill HB2275

Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

Labor; providing for leave of absence from employment for search and rescue volunteers; effective date.

Impact

The bill seeks to enhance the support for search and rescue volunteers by ensuring they can fulfill their essential roles in emergencies without jeopardizing their employment. It mandates that employers cannot terminate or remove employees from their positions solely due to their participation in search and rescue operations. This protection helps foster community engagement in critical public service while safeguarding the livelihoods of volunteers.

Summary

House Bill 2275 aims to provide job protection for employees who volunteer for search and rescue operations. This legislation allows employees who are called to assist in search and rescue activities to take a leave of absence from their employment without the risk of losing their position. The bill outlines that employers are permitted to grant such leaves and stipulates that employers must restore employees to their original or equivalent positions upon completion of their service.

Contention

While the bill is generally viewed positively for strengthening ties between employment and community service, it may raise concerns in discussions about the potential burden on employers. Critics might argue that requiring employers to provide unpaid leave can impose challenges on small businesses that may struggle to accommodate extended absences. Nevertheless, proponents emphasize the value of supporting volunteer efforts during emergencies as a public good that benefits the entire community.