FL S0370

Requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide up to 15 days of unpaid annual Civil Air Patrol leave to employees who are Civil Air Patrol members with emergency services qualification and have been employed for at least 90 days.

Prohibits employers from discharging, reprimanding, or penalizing employees for taking Civil Air Patrol leave, and protects returning members from discharge for one year except for cause.

Entitles Civil Air Patrol members returning from leave to retain their previous seniority and accrue additional seniority as if continuously employed, and allows them to use accrued vacation or compensatory leave at their request.

Allows employers to deny reinstatement only if circumstances have changed making employment impossible, employment would impose undue hardship, the position was brief and nonrecurring, or the member had legal cause for termination at the time leave began.

Permits aggrieved employees to file civil action after the wing commander certifies probable cause of violation, with liability of actual damages or $500 (whichever is greater) and recovery of attorney fees and court costs by the prevailing party.