Public school employees: former or current members of the Armed Forces of the United States or California National Guard: leave of absence for illness or injury.

(1) Existing law requires a certificated employee hired on or after January 1, 2017, who is a military veteran with a military service-connected disability rated at 30% or more by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be entitled to a leave of absence for illness or injury with pay of up to 10 days for the purpose of undergoing medical treatment for his or her military service-connected disability, as specified. This bill would expand these requirements to include a certificated employee who is a former active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a former or current member of the California National Guard or a federal reserve component, who was hired on or after, or employed on or after, January 1, 2017, with a service-connected disability rated at 30% or more by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that was incurred during the active duty recently completed. The bill would require credit for leave of absence under this provision to be credited to a qualifying certificated employee on the effective date of the employee's disability rating decision from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or on the first day the qualifying certificated employee begins, or returns to, employment after active duty, whichever is later, except under specified circumstances when provisions authorizing alternative leave arrangements would be applicable. (2) Existing law requires a classified employee hired on or after January 1, 2017, who is a military veteran with a military service-connected disability rated at 30% or more by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be entitled to a leave of absence for illness or injury with pay of up to 12 days for the purpose of undergoing medical treatment for his or her military service-connected disability, as specified. This bill would expand these requirements to include a classified employee who is a former active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States or a former or current member of the California National Guard or a federal reserve component, who was hired on or after, or employed on or after, January 1, 2017, with a service-connected disability rated at 30% or more by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that was incurred during the active duty recently completed. The bill would require credit for leave of absence under this provision to be credited to a qualifying classified employee on the effective date of the employee's disability rating decision from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or on the first day the qualifying classified employee begins, or returns to, employment after active duty, whichever is later, except under specified circumstances when provisions authorizing alternative leave arrangements would be applicable.