2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 5-259d. Continuation of health insurance, leave of absence, for state employees called to active service in the armed forces for Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle, related emergency or military operations whose mission was changed as a result of the attacks of September 11, 2001, federal or state action in support of the federal Department of Homeland Security\'s Operation Liberty Shield, military operations authorized by the President that entail military action against Iraq, or federal or state action to combat terrorism within the United States.

      Sec. 5-259d. Continuation of health insurance, leave of absence, for state employees called to active service in the armed forces for Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle, related emergency or military operations whose mission was changed as a result of the attacks of September 11, 2001, federal or state action in support of the federal Department of Homeland Security's Operation Liberty Shield, military operations authorized by the President that entail military action against Iraq, or federal or state action to combat terrorism within the United States. (a) As used in this section, (1) "state employee" or "employee" means any elected official, officer or full-time employee of the Executive, Legislative or Judicial Department, and (2) "part pay" means the difference between the state employee's base rate of pay, plus longevity, in the employee's primary position on the date the employee is called to active service in the armed forces of any state or the United States and the total compensation the employee receives for such active service, as certified to the State Comptroller by the employing state agency in a manner acceptable to the State Comptroller.

      (b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any public or special act, the state shall continue to provide coverage, under a group hospitalization and medical and surgical insurance plan sponsored by the state under section 5-259, for the dependents of any state employee and the state employee who is a member of the armed forces of any state or of any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and who has been called to active service in the armed forces of any state or the United States for (1) Operation Enduring Freedom, (2) Operation Noble Eagle, (3) a related emergency operation or a military operation whose mission was substantially changed as a result of the attacks of September 11, 2001, or (4) federal action or state action authorized by the Governor in support of the federal Department of Homeland Security's Operation Liberty Shield, military operations that are authorized by the President of the United States that entail military action against Iraq, or federal action or state action authorized by the Governor to combat terrorism within the United States, for the duration of such call-up to active service, provided such state employee and dependents were covered by the insurance plan on the date the state employee was called to active service and the state employee continues to pay any amount that the employee was required to pay for coverage before being called to active service. Any payment required to be made by the employee for coverage under this subsection may be deducted from compensation provided under subsection (c) of this section. The state shall reimburse any state employee who has paid premiums for the continuation of any such group hospitalization and medical and surgical insurance plan between the date such state employee was called to active service and November 20, 2001. The reimbursement shall be in the amount of the state's portion of the premiums so paid.

      (c) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any public or special act, any state employee who is a member of the armed forces of any state or of any reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and who has been called to active service in the armed forces of any state or the United States for (1) Operation Enduring Freedom, (2) Operation Noble Eagle, (3) a related emergency operation or a military operation whose mission was substantially changed as a result of the attacks of September 11, 2001, or (4) federal action or state action authorized by the Governor in support of the federal Department of Homeland Security's Operation Liberty Shield, military operations that are authorized by the President of the United States that entail military action against Iraq, or federal action or state action authorized by the Governor to combat terrorism within the United States, shall be entitled to a leave of absence with pay as provided in section 27-33 from the date on which the employee was called to active service. After the expiration of such leave of absence with pay, the state employee shall receive part pay for the duration of such call-up to active service if the compensation received by the state employee for such active service is less than the employee's base rate of pay, plus longevity, in the employee's primary position. The state employee shall not be required to exhaust accrued vacation or sick time in order to be eligible for the paid leave of absence and part pay under this subsection.

      (Nov. 13 Sp. Sess. S.A. 01-1; P.A. 03-3, S. 3.)

      History: Nov. 13 Sp. Sess. S.A. 01-1 effective November 20, 2001; P.A. 03-3 amended Subsecs. (b), authorizing the continuation of health insurance, and (c), authorizing leave of absence with pay, by adding numeric Subdiv. indicators before the existing references to Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Noble Eagle, and related emergency operation or a military operation, etc., and by adding new Subdiv. (4) that includes federal or state action in support of the federal Department of Homeland Security's Operation Liberty Shield, military operations authorized by the President that entail military action in Iraq, and federal or state action to combat terrorism within the United States, effective March 27, 2003.