Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 525 amends the Labor Code and Government Code to entitle members of the National Guard, State Guard, and other state military forces to workers' compensation, under the same law by which state employees are covered, if they are killed or disabled while engaged in authorized training or duty. A temporary provision authorizes the adjutant general to use available public funds to purchase insurance policies or annuity contracts. These changes apply to injuries or deaths occurring on or after August 15, 1998. The act also amplifies the civilian employment protection of state military force personnel to prohibit job termination during not just active duty, as under previous law, but all authorized duty and training. Other new protections include prohibitions against loss of time, vacation, benefits, or efficiency rating. A private employer, however, is not required to pay regular wages during the training or duty period.