TITLE 29. MILITARY, NAVAL, AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS

CHAPTER 2. VETERANS GENERALLY

PART VI. MILITARY SERVICE RELIEF ACT

SUBPART B. COMPENSATION

29:405     Compensation

A. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, any private or public employer in this state is hereby authorized to pay compensation to any employee who leaves employment to perform service in the uniformed services.  If the employer elects to pay the compensation, it shall be paid on a uniform basis to all such employees of that employer.

(2) Notwithstanding the provision of any other law to the contrary, the payment of state supplemental pay or extra compensation paid by the state to any peace officer as defined in R.S. 40:2402(1) and provided for in R.S. 33:2218.2 and 2218.8 and R.S. 40:1457 and 2405 and to any firefighter as provided for in R.S. 33:2002 shall be continued to be paid to each employee and shall not be suspended or terminated during the period of time that the peace officer or firefighter is on active duty service in the uniformed services of the United States pursuant to a declaration of war, congressional authorization or presidential proclamation under the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.), national emergency, or call of the governor as provided by law.

(3) After military leave with pay provided for in R.S. 42:394 has been exhausted, any state employee called to active duty service in the uniformed services of the United States pursuant to a declaration of war, congressional authorization, or presidential proclamation pursuant to the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.), or national emergency whose military base pay is less than his state base pay shall be paid the difference between his military base pay and his state base pay in his regular position.  The payment shall be made in the same frequency and manner as the employee's regular state pay.  Any employee receiving the pay differential shall provide to his employer all such documentation appropriate to ensure that the amount of the payment is accurately calculated.  Any employee who elected to use his annual leave during active service shall not be eligible for receipt of the pay differential, unless the leave was used between September 11, 2001, and June 13, 2003, in which case any employee who chooses to use the pay differential option shall have his leave balance recredited with a leave amount equal to the value of the pay differential the employee would have received had this Paragraph been in effect on September 11, 2001.

B. The payment of compensation subsequent to the employee's release from service in the uniformed services and upon reemployment with his former employer shall be governed by the provisions of R.S. 29:410.

C. The payment of compensation and benefits to elected officials shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of La. Const. Art. VI, § 12 and La. Const. Art. X, § 23.

Added by Acts 1995, No. 716, § 1, eff. June 21, 1995.  Amended by Acts 2001, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 5, § 1;  Acts 2003, No. 327, § 1, eff. June 13, 2003.