FUTURE ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE / MILITARY PAY EQUAL TO CITY PAY / CONTINUED BENEFITS

Motion - Existing State law provides protection to City employees who are called into active duty. Section 395.01 of the California Military and Veterans Code mandates full pay and compensation for the first 30 days of such service. The City extended the level of benefits, to further ensure that City employees wouldn't endure any untoward financial loss while serving their nation in times of conflict. Through various actions, the Council protected the interests of City employees who were called to active duty for periods lasting longer than 30 days. The Council also protected the benefits of those employees who were called up more than once in a given year, since state law had inadequately addressed such special circumstances. In 2001, after the September 11 tragedy, the City Council adopted an Ordinance (No. 174264) which provided that City employees called to active military duty subsequent to the event of September 11, 2001, would receive the difference between their regular City salaries and their military salaries and would enjoy continuation of current City medical, dental and life insurance program benefits for the duration of their military assignment assignment. The City of Los Angeles also supported similar efforts during the Iraq-Kuwait crisis in the early 1990's, during the War in Bosnia in the mid-1990's, the Hurricane relief efforts in 2005, and this year's border security operation deployment. The City of Los Angeles owes a similar obligation to City employees who are called up for all future active military service. They should not have to bear financial penalties for their required military services. They should not have to sacrifice any financial compensation or employee benefits for themselves or their family members. In continued support of City employees who risk their lives for their country, it is imperative that the City enact the appropriate ordinance for the benefit of the people of the City, State and Nation. THEREFORE MOVE that the City Attorney, with the assistance of the Personnel Department and the City Administrative Officer (CAO), be requested to prepare and present an ordinance to provide that all full-time City employees, who are activated by the armed services of the United States for all future military duty, receive the difference between their current City salaries and their military salaries and continuation of current City medical, dental and life insurance program benefits for the duration of their military assignment, consistent with previously adopted military leave ordinances. FURTHER MOVE that the CAO be directed to report on the fiscal impact of this action concurrent with the presentation of the ordinance.