83R27987 MCK-F
 
  By: Birdwell, et al. S.B. No. 442
 
  (Farias)
 
  Substitute the following for S.B. No. 442:  No.
 
 
 
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 was a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of
  the United States, including the National Guard, 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.
         (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)  The administrative head of a state agency may grant
  additional days of leave described by Subsection (b) as the
  administrative head determines appropriate for the employee.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.