Military Family Leave Act of 2017

To amend title 38, United States Code, to grant family of members of the uniformed services temporary annual leave during the deployment of such members, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Military Family Leave Act of 2017 2. Annual leave for family of deployed members of the uniformed services (a) In general Part III of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter: 44 Annual leave for family of deployed members of the uniformed services Sec. 4401. Definitions. 4402. Leave requirement. 4403. Certification. 4404. Employment and benefits protection. 4405. Prohibited acts. 4406. Enforcement. 4407. Miscellaneous provisions. 4401. Definitions In this chapter: (1) The terms benefit rights and benefits employee employer uniformed services (2) The term contingency operation (3) The term eligible employee (A) a family member of a member of a uniformed service; and (B) an employee of the employer with respect to whom leave is requested under section 4402 of this title. (4) The term family member (A) The spouse of the other individual. (B) A son or daughter of the other individual. (C) A parent of the other individual. (5) The term reduced leave schedule (6) The terms spouse son or daughter parent 29 U.S.C. 2611 4402. Leave requirement (a) Entitlement to leave In any 12-month period, an eligible employee shall be entitled to two workweeks of leave for each family member of the eligible employee who, during such 12-month period— (1) is in the uniformed services; and (2) (A) receives notification of an impending call or order to active duty in support of a contingency operation; or (B) is deployed in connection with a contingency operation. (b) Leave taken intermittently or on reduced leave schedule (1) Leave under subsection (a) may be taken by an eligible employee intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule as the eligible employee considers appropriate. (2) The taking of leave intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule pursuant to this subsection shall not result in a reduction in the total amount of leave to which the eligible employee is entitled under subsection (a) beyond the amount of leave actually taken. (c) Paid leave permitted Leave granted under subsection (a) may consist of paid leave or unpaid leave as the employer of the eligible employee considers appropriate. (d) Relationship to paid leave (1) If an employer provides paid leave to an eligible employee for fewer than the total number of workweeks of leave that the eligible employee is entitled to under subsection (a), the additional amount of leave necessary to attain the total number of workweeks of leave required under subsection (a) may be provided without compensation. (2) An eligible employee may elect, and an employer may not require the eligible employee, to substitute any of the accrued paid vacation leave, personal leave, or family leave of the eligible employee for leave provided under subsection (a) for any part of the total period of such leave the eligible employee is entitled to under such subsection. (e) Notice for leave In any case in which an eligible employee chooses to use leave under subsection (a), the eligible employee shall provide such notice to the employer as is reasonable and practicable. 4403. Certification (a) In general An employer may require that a request for leave under section 4402(a) of this title be supported by a certification of entitlement to such leave. (b) Timeliness of certification An eligible employee shall provide, in a timely manner, a copy of the certification required by subsection (a) to the employer. (c) Sufficient certification A copy of the notification, call, or order described in section 4402(a)(2) of this title shall be considered sufficient certification of entitlement to leave for purposes of providing certification under this section. The Secretary may prescribe such additional forms and manners of certification as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of providing certification under this section. 4404. Employment and benefits protection (a) In general An eligible employee who takes leave under section 4402 of this title for the intended purpose of the leave shall be entitled, on return from such leave— (1) to be restored by the employer to the position of employment held by the eligible employee when the leave commenced; or (2) to be restored to an equivalent position with equivalent rights and benefits of employment. (b) Loss of benefits The taking of leave under section 4402 of this title shall not result in the loss of any employment benefit accrued prior to the date on which the leave commenced. (c) Limitations Nothing in this section shall be construed to entitle any restored employee to— (1) the accrual of any seniority or employment benefits during any period of leave; or (2) any right, benefit, or position of employment other than any right, benefit, or position to which the employee would have been entitled had the employee not taken the leave. 4405. Prohibited acts (a) Exercise of rights It shall be unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of or the attempt to exercise, any right provided under this chapter. (b) Discrimination It shall be unlawful for any employer to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any individual for opposing any practice made unlawful by this chapter. 4406. Enforcement The provisions of subchapter III of chapter 43 of this title shall apply with respect to the provisions of this chapter as if such provisions were incorporated into and made part of this chapter. 4407. Miscellaneous provisions The provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 43 of this title shall apply with respect to the provisions of this chapter as if such provisions were incorporated into and made part of this chapter. . (b) Clerical amendments The table of chapters at the beginning of title 38, United States Code, and at the beginning of part III of such title, are each amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 43 the following new item: 44. Annual Leave for Family of Deployed Members of the Uniformed Services 4401 .

Summary: Military Family Leave Act of 2017 This bill entitles an employed family member of a member of the Armed Forces who receives notification of a call or order to active duty in support of a contingency operation, or who is deployed in connection with a contingency operation, to two workweeks of leave per year for each family member who is so called or deployed. Such leave may: (1) be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule; and (2) consist of paid or unpaid leave, as the employer considers appropriate. The bill: (1) allows an employer to require certification of entitlement to such leave within a leave request, (2) provides employment and benefits protection for employees upon their return from such leave, and (3) prohibits an employer from interfering with or otherwise denying the exercise of such leave rights.