AR SB242

Amends Arkansas Code § 24-2-504(a) to extend employment protections under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act to members called to state active military duty, not just federal active duty.

Modifies § 24-2-505(a)(1), (b), and (c) to ensure survivors and disabled members receive retirement benefits for deaths or disabilities occurring during state active military duty on or after January 1, 2011, as if the member had resumed employment before the event occurred.

Updates military service credit provisions in four retirement systems—Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, Local Police and Fire Retirement System, Police Officers' Pension and Relief Fund, and Firemen's Relief and Pension Funds—to explicitly include state active duty as qualifying service.

Standardizes terminology across all amended sections by clarifying that "uniformed services" includes the Army National Guard and Air National Guard when engaged in active duty for training, state active duty, inactive duty training, or full-time National Guard duty.

Bill was approved March 15, 2019, as Act 474 of the Regular Session.