AK HB347

Allows teachers, public employees, and private sector employees to take up to 10 unpaid work days per calendar year when their spouse is on leave from military deployment in a designated combat zone.

Applies to spouses who are members of regular, reserve, or auxiliary armed forces components or organized militia deployed during a period of war declared by Congress or involving reserve component activation under 10 U.S.C. sections 12301 or 12302.

Employees are not required to provide advance notice for leave requests, and employers cannot deny qualifying requests or retaliate against employees for requesting or taking the leave.

Leave does not constitute a break in service for retirement purposes and maintains employee pay status to ensure continued eligibility for employee benefits, though it does not accrue additional retirement benefits beyond normal leave without pay.

Covers public school teachers under Alaska's education code, state and local government employees, and private employers with 20 or more employees; violations subject to enforcement and regulations by the respective departments.