By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang last week approved House Bill 24-54, increasing the number of military leave hours for government employees.
Now Public Law 24-18, the bill — authored by Rep. Danny I. Aquino — also broadens eligibility for military leave.
The new law entitles all permanent employees of the CNMI government in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as any autonomous agency, office, board, authority, commission, or instrumentality, to paid military and emergency service leave not to exceed 30 working days per calendar year.
It also makes military leave hours available to all government employees who are members of the U.S. National Guard; a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces; the Federal Emergency Management Agency Reservist Program; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps; and any other uniformed service covered by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
P.L. 24-18 further applies to those ordered to perform active duty, training, emergency response, or other authorized service under competent military, federal, or state authority, including service in response to a national emergency, disaster, or other major incident.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
