Amend CSSB 73 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering the SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Subchapter Z, Chapter 661, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 661.923 to read as follows:
Sec. 661.923. MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE LEAVE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS. (a) This section applies to a state employee who is:
(1) a veteran, as defined by Section 434.023(a); and
(2) eligible for health benefits under a program administered by the Veterans Health Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
(b) A state employee described by Subsection (a) may be granted leave without a deduction in salary or loss of vacation time, sick leave, earned overtime credit, or state compensatory time to obtain medical or mental health care administered by the Veterans Health Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, including physical rehabilitation.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), leave granted under Subsection (b) may not exceed 15 days each fiscal year.
(d) The administrative head of a state agency may annually grant additional days of leave described by Subsection (b) as the administrative head determines appropriate for the employee.