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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to leave for certain veterans returning to state |
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employment. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 661, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 661.920 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 661.920. LEAVE FOR REEMPLOYED VETERANS. (a) A state |
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employee is entitled to leave under this section if the state |
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employee: |
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(1) is a member of a reserve component of the armed |
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forces of the United States, including the National Guard; |
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(2) is ordered to federal active duty under Title 10, |
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United States Code, for at least 180 days, during a period of war or |
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during an ongoing recognized conflict for which a campaign medal is |
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authorized, or to support stability operations after the end of a |
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war or conflict; and |
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(3) received an honorable discharge or a general |
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discharge under honorable conditions after the completion of the |
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service described by Subdivision (2). |
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(b) A state employee described by Subsection (a) who is |
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reemployed by a state agency after military service shall be |
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granted leave without a deduction in salary or loss of vacation |
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time, sick leave, earned overtime credit, or state compensatory |
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time to tend to matters relating to the employee's military service |
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or reintegration into civilian life, including obtaining medical or |
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mental health care and receiving employee assistance counseling. |
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Leave under this subsection may not exceed 15 days and must be used |
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before the first anniversary of the date the employee is reemployed |
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by the state agency. |
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(c) On each anniversary of the date a state employee |
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described by Subsection (a) is reemployed by a state agency, the |
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employee shall be granted leave without a deduction in salary or |
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loss of vacation time, sick leave, earned overtime credit, or state |
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compensatory time to tend to matters relating to the employee's |
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military service or reintegration into civilian life, including |
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obtaining medical or mental health care and receiving employee |
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assistance counseling. Leave under this subsection may not exceed |
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10 days. The amount of any unused leave under this subsection may |
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not be carried forward to a subsequent year. |
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(d) The administrative head of a state agency may grant |
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additional days of leave described by Subsections (b) and (c) as the |
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administrative head determines appropriate for the employee. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |