| 1 | 1 | | 85R2887 JCG-F |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Howard H.B. No. 629 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to leave for certain veterans obtaining medical and mental |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | health care. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 661, Government Code, is |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 661.923 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 661.923. MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE LEAVE FOR |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | CERTAIN VETERANS. (a) This section applies to a state employee who |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | is: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | (1) a veteran, as defined by Section 434.023(a); and |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | (2) eligible for health benefits under a program |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | administered by the Veterans Health Administration of the United |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | States Department of Veterans Affairs. |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (b) A state employee described by Subsection (a) is entitled |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | to leave without a deduction in salary or loss of vacation time, |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | sick leave, earned overtime credit, or state compensatory time to |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | obtain medical or mental health care administered by the Veterans |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | Health Administration of the United States Department of Veterans |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | Affairs, including physical rehabilitation. |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | (c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), leave granted |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | under Subsection (b) may not exceed 15 days each fiscal year. |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | (d) The administrative head of a state agency may annually |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | grant additional days of leave described by Subsection (b) as the |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | administrative head determines appropriate for the employee. |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
|---|