Bill Text: AZ HB2500 | 2015 | Fifty-second Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Unpaid leave; employee; military family

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-09 - Referred to House MAPS Committee [HB2500 Detail]

Download: Arizona-2015-HB2500-Introduced.html

---

 

 

 

REFERENCE TITLE: unpaid leave; employee; military family

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-second Legislature

First Regular Session

2015

 

 

HB 2500

 

Introduced by

Representatives Larkin, Andrade, Steele, Wheeler: Clark, Espinoza, Finchem, Gonzales, Hale, Sherwood, Thorpe

 

 

AN ACT

 

Amending Title 23, chapter 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding article 16; relating to the veterans reintegration act.

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Title 23, chapter 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 16, to read:

ARTICLE 16.  VETERANS REINTEGRATION ACT

START_STATUTE23-495.  Definitions

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1.  "Employee" has the same meaning prescribed in section 23‑211.

2.  "Employer" has the same meaning prescribed in section 23‑211.

3.  "Immediate family member" means a spouse, child, parent or sibling of the employee. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE23-495.01  Unpaid leave; military family member

A.  An employer shall provide up to two consecutive work weeks of unpaid leave to an employee if the employee makes a written request to the employer for the unpaid leave at least two weeks before the commencement date of the leave time and the employee has an immediate family member who either:

1.  Was honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States and served in a combat zone within the nine months immediately preceding the date the employee makes the leave request under this section.

2.  Is an active duty member of the armed forces of the united states who is on military leave and who served in a combat zone within the ninety days immediately preceding the date the employee makes the leave request under this section.

B.  An employer is not required to provide an employee the unpaid leave under this section more than once in each consecutive twelve‑month period.

C.  If the employee otherwise qualifies for the unpaid leave under this section, the employer is required to grant the unpaid leave whether or not the employee is otherwise eligible for time off or has other leave available. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.  Intent

The legislature finds and determines that the Veterans Reintegration Act will help to ensure cohesiveness and support among military families of service members who are returning from wartime conditions and who are reintegrating into a family and civilian setting.  Reintegration is the process by which military service members transition from the uniqueness of military life into normal everyday civilian living.  With the number of returning service members increasing, they and their families must now reassemble their lives after each member has experienced profound change.  The Veterans Reintegration Act provides time for military families to reconnect and for service members to receive the necessary post-deployment support.

Sec. 3.  Short title

Title 23, chapter 2, article 16, Arizona Revised Statutes, may be cited as the "Veterans Reintegration Act".