SF3693

Purpose

The bill aims to align benefits for people who take a leave of absence to serve in the state legislature with benefits for other state and local government employees. It ensures that when lawmakers take mandated legislative leave, their rights to certain benefits and service calculations are preserved as if they had not taken the leave, and it aligns their pension and retirement rights with those provided to local government employees.

Main Provisions

• For an officer or employee who is elected to state legislative office and must take a leave of absence under the specified subdivisions:
  • They retain the same rights regarding accrued and future seniority status, efficiency rating, vacation, insurance, sick leave, and other benefits as if the leave had not been taken.
• The appointing authority must not subtract any period of mandatory legislative leave when determining the officer’s or employee’s length of service.
• Pension and retirement benefit rights for these individuals are to be the same as those provided to local government employees under Minnesota Statutes, section 3.088, subdivisions 3 and 6.

Significant Changes

• Creates parity between legislative leaves and regular employment by preserving benefits, seniority, and pension rights as if the leave did not occur.
• Updates Minnesota Statutes to add a subdivision to 43A.32 that codifies this treatment for state and local government employees involved in legislative service.

Implementation Notes

• The provision would amend Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 43A.32 by adding a subdivision (Subd. 4) titled “Leave for legislative service.”
• It applies to officers or employees elected to state legislative office who take mandated legislative leave under the referenced subdivisions.
• The bill references alignment with local government employee standards under section 3.088, subdivisions 3 and 6.

Relevant Terms - leave of absence - legislative service - accrued seniority status - future seniority status - efficiency rating - vacation - insurance - sick leave - other benefits - length of service - appointing authority - mandatory legislative leave - pension - retirement benefit rights - local government employees - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 43A.32 - subdivision - Minnesota Statutes section 3.088, subdivisions 3 and 6