2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25101237D

HOUSE BILL NO. 2761

Offered January 17, 2025

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 2.2-2821.4, relating to state employee leave; attending health care with certain veterans.

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Patron—Earley

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Referred to Committee on General Laws

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 2.2-2821.4 as follows:

§ 2.2-2821.4. Leave for attending health care with certain veterans.

A. For the purposes of this section:

"Eligible parent" means a veteran who is (i) the biological parent of a state employee or (ii) an individual who stood in loco parentis to a state employee when such employee was under 18 years of age.

"Serious health condition" means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves (i) inpatient care in a Veterans Affairs hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility or (ii) continuing treatment by a Veterans Affairs health care provider.

"State employee" means any person 18 years of age or older who is regularly employed full time on a salaried basis, whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment, in the service of, and whose compensation is payable no more often than biweekly, in whole or in part, by the Commonwealth or any department, institution, or agency thereof.

"Veteran" means an individual who has served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and who was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.

B. State employees shall be allowed up to 24 hours of paid leave per month in any calendar year, in addition to other paid leave, in order to attend medical appointments or procedures at a Veterans Affairs hospital, center, or other facility or installation with an eligible parent if such eligible parent has a serious health condition.

C. The Department of Human Resource Management shall develop personnel policies providing for the use of such leave. Prior to taking any leave pursuant to this section, a state employee shall demonstrate that he is eligible to take leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.. Any such employee shall provide sufficient documentation of the medical appointment, which may include a Veterans Affairs appointment card or other Veterans Affairs documentation of the appointment.