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Bill > HB1600


VA HB1600

Volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services providers; leaves of absence from work.


summary

Introduced
01/15/2020
In Committee
01/15/2020
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/12/2020

Introduced Session

2020 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Leave for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services providers. Requires private employers to allow volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency medical services providers to take leaves of absence from their employment at times when the employee leaves work, or is late for work, due to the employee's providing emergency services as a volunteer firefighter or volunteer emergency medical services provider for or on behalf of, and within the scope of his duties with, his volunteer fire department, or is returning from providing such emergency services. This provision does not apply if the absence of employees from the place of employment reduces the number of employees remaining on the job or at work at such place of employment by 50 percent or more. The bill allows employers to treat such leaves of absence as unpaid leave. Employers are prohibited from requiring such employee to exhaust any other leave to which he is entitled prior to such leaves of absence. The bill provides that if such an employee fails to provide the employer, upon request, with verification from the chief or deputy chief of the employee's volunteer fire department that the employee was providing such services, or returning from providing them, during the time that the employee took a leave of absence, the employee shall not thereafter be entitled to take such leave.

AI Summary

This bill requires private employers to allow volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency medical services providers to take leaves of absence from their employment when they need to respond to emergencies or return from providing emergency services. The bill defines key terms such as "volunteer firefighter" and "volunteer emergency medical services provider." It also allows employers to treat these leaves as unpaid and prohibits them from requiring employees to exhaust other leave before taking this leave. However, the bill does not apply if the absences would reduce the number of employees on the job by 50% or more. The bill also requires employees to provide verification from their volunteer fire department if the employer requests it, or they may lose their entitlement to this leave.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Left in Labor and Commerce (on 02/11/2020)

bill text


bill summary

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