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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
leaves of absence; military training
Purpose
Expands the leave of absence from employment granted to a public officer or employee or a member of the National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserves to encompass all days during which the officer, employee or member is under competent military orders for active duty or training.
Background
The officers and employees of the state, a county, city or town or an agency or a political subdivision of the state are granted leaves of absence from their duties without loss of time, pay or efficiency rating on all days during which they are employed: 1) on training duty or to attend camps, maneuvers, formations or drills under orders with any branch or reserve of the U.S. Armed Forces for the prescribed military leave period; and 2) on training duty by the National Disaster Medical System under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (U.S. HHS). The military leave period is up to three times the average of regularly scheduled work hours in a weekly work period each year and up to six times the average of regularly scheduled work hours in a weekly work period in any two consecutive years (A.R.S. § 38-610).
An employer may not refuse to allow members of the National Guard or the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves to take leaves of absence from employment for the purpose of complying with competent orders of the state, another state or the United States for active duty or to attend camps, maneuvers, formations or armory drills (A.R.S. § 26-168).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Grants the officers and employees of the state, any county, city or town or any agency or political subdivision of the state leaves of absence without loss of time, pay or efficiency rating on all days during which they are:
a) complying with competent orders of the National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserves for active duty or training, rather than on training duty or to attend camps, maneuvers, formations or drills under orders with any branch or reserve of the U.S. Armed Forces; and
b) on duty, rather than on training duty, by the National Disaster Medical System under the U.S. HHS.
2. Asserts that the officers and employees of the state, any county, city or town or any agency or political subdivision of the state must be granted leaves of absence on all days during which they are employed:
a) on duty, rather than on training duty; and
b) under orders with any auxiliary of the U.S. Armed Forces, rather than to attend camps, maneuvers, formations or drills under orders with any auxiliary of the U.S. Armed Forces.
3. Prohibits an employer from refusing to allow members of the National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserves to take leaves of absence for the purpose of complying with competent military orders for training, rather than to attend camps, maneuvers, formations or armory drills.
4. Entitles an officer or employee of the state or any department or political subdivision of the state who is a National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserves member to leave of absence without loss of time or efficiency rating on all days during which the individual is under competent military orders, rather than engaged in field training.
5. Makes conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
FMAE 2/4/26 DP 7-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/23/26 57-0-3
Prepared by Senate Research
March 12, 2026
KJA/KM/ci