HB 97

Present law requires that state employees who are members of any reserve component of the United States armed forces, including members of the Tennessee army and air national guard, (collectively: "members"") are entitled to a leave of absence from their respective duties without the loss of any rights or benefits to which such members would otherwise be entitled for all periods of military service during which they are engaged in the performance of duty or training in the ser v ice of this state, or of the United States, under competent orders. An officer or employee, while on such leave, must be paid salary or compensation for a period, or periods, not exceeding 20 working days in any one calendar year, plus such additional da y s as may result from any call to active state duty by the governor in the case of emergency. Present law requires that such military leave must be unaffected by the date of employment or length of service and must have no effect on other leaves provided by law, regulation, policy, or practice. After the 20 working days of full compensation, present law authorizes the following additional methods of compensation:  Any public employer may provide partial compensation to its employees while under competent orders.  Members may use up to five days of sick leave in lieu of annual leave for the purposes of not having to take leave without pay.  An educator who is a member may use any accumulated sick leave in lieu of annual leave for the purposes of not having to take leave without pay when called into active duty. An educator may use up to five days of an initial allotment of sick leave. As used in this bill, an ""educator"" means a teacher, principal, supervisor, or other individual required by law to hold a valid license of qualification for employment in the public schools of this state. This bill clarifies that, as used in the present law described above, a ""working day"" means the number of hours an employee is scheduled to work in a 24-hour period."