|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to leave for certain veterans obtaining medical and mental |
|
health care. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 661, Government Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 661.923 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) is entitled |
|
to 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. |
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |