Legislation to Help Military Families Passes Assembly Unanimously

AB 392 will help military families spend more time with their loved ones.

(Sacramento, CA) –AB 392, a bill by Assembly Member Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), which allows the spouse of an active duty soldier to take ten days of unpaid leave from their job to spend time with a spouse who is returning from deployment, was unanimously passed off the Assembly Floor.

“Given the current military situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is imperative that we ensure spouses have the opportunity to spend time with their loved ones upon return from deployment.” said Assemblyman Lieu, who formerly served active duty in the U.S. Air Force.  “These soldiers not only risk their lives to protect our freedom; they also miss long stretched of time away from their families.  Granting them this time when they return is the least we can do.”

For our safety and security, families of our military service men and women sacrifice time spent with their loved ones. AB 392 recognizes this sacrifice and ensures spouses of our men and women in uniform time off when their spouses return from service.

AB 392 applies to employers which employ 25 or more employees. It requires an employee to give advance notice, within two business days of receiving notice, of their intention to take the leave, and requires the employee to submit written documentation certifying that the spouse will be on leave from deployment during the time the leave is taken.  Similar legislation has been introduced in New York, Hawaii and Indiana.