Bill > H3141

This bill establishes new provisions for "Civil Air Patrol leave," which is defined as time off for an employee who is a volunteer member of the Massachusetts Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, a civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, and has been authorized to respond to an emergency operational mission. The bill requires employers, defined as entities employing more than 15 people, to provide up to 10 days of unpaid leave per calendar year for such missions, with individual missions not exceeding three days unless extended and approved. Employees must provide as much notice as possible and may need to provide certification from the Civil Air Patrol to verify their eligibility. This leave cannot be used to diminish existing employee benefits, and employers must restore employees to their previous or equivalent positions upon their return, though they can negotiate to maintain benefits during the leave. The bill also prohibits employers from interfering with or retaliating against employees who exercise their rights under these provisions, and employees can take civil action to enforce these rights.