83R11461 MCK-F
By: Farias H.B. No. 418
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 418:
By: Menendez C.S.H.B. No. 418
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to leave for certain veterans returning to state
employment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 661, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 661.920 to read as follows:
Sec. 661.920. LEAVE FOR REEMPLOYED VETERANS. (a) A state
employee is entitled to leave under this section if the state
employee:
(1) is a member of a reserve component of the armed
forces of the United States, including the National Guard;
(2) is ordered to federal active duty under Title 10,
United States Code, for at least 180 days, during a period of war or
during an ongoing recognized conflict for which a campaign medal is
authorized, or to support stability operations after the end of a
war or conflict; and
(3) received an honorable discharge or a general
discharge under honorable conditions after the completion of the
service described by Subdivision (2).
(b) A state employee described by Subsection (a) who is
reemployed by a state agency after military service shall be
granted leave without a deduction in salary or loss of vacation
time, sick leave, earned overtime credit, or state compensatory
time to tend to matters relating to the employee's military service
or reintegration into civilian life, including obtaining medical or
mental health care and receiving employee assistance counseling.
Leave under this subsection may not exceed 15 days and must be used
before the first anniversary of the date the employee is reemployed
by the state agency.
(c) On each anniversary of the date a state employee
described by Subsection (a) is reemployed by a state agency, the
employee shall be granted leave without a deduction in salary or
loss of vacation time, sick leave, earned overtime credit, or state
compensatory time to tend to matters relating to the employee's
military service or reintegration into civilian life, including
obtaining medical or mental health care and receiving employee
assistance counseling. Leave under this subsection may not exceed
10 days. The amount of any unused leave under this subsection may
not be carried forward to a subsequent year.
(d) The administrative head of a state agency may grant
additional days of leave described by Subsections (b) and (c) as the
administrative head determines appropriate for the employee.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.