HCS HB 1883 -- EMPLOYEE JOB PROTECTION

SPONSOR:  Wilson, 119 (Nance)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Special
Committee on Rural Community Development by a vote of 9 to 0.

This substitute prohibits public and private employers from
terminating an employee for being activated to a national
disaster response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) or for being absent from or late to work due to his or her
volunteer emergency service.  If an employee is absent from or
late to work due to his or her service with FEMA, the employee
may lose pay and may be required to provide a written
verification from his or her supervisor as to the time and date
of the emergency.  The member must make a reasonable effort to
notify his or her employer that he or she may be absent from or
late to work due to an emergency.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and
FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will only apply to
individuals who receive specialized training from FEMA.  It
essentially treats FEMA-trained volunteers like members of the
National Guard by providing them employment security while
deployed by FEMA to a national disaster.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Nance.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm