CS/HB 635 Summary

• Employers with 15 or more employees must provide up to 15 days of unpaid annual Civil Air Patrol leave to employees who are Civil Air Patrol members for training or missions.

• Employers are prohibited from discharging, reprimanding, or penalizing Civil Air Patrol members for taking authorized leave.

• Returning Civil Air Patrol members retain their seniority and cannot be discharged for 1 year after returning to work except for cause.

• An employee must have worked for the same employer for at least 90 days immediately preceding the leave to qualify for Civil Air Patrol leave protections.

• Upon certification of probable cause by the Civil Air Patrol wing commander, an aggrieved employee may bring a civil action and recover actual damages or $500 (whichever is greater) plus reasonable attorney fees and court costs.

• Effective date: July 1, 2017.