Legislation passed off the Senate floor to protect members of the Oklahoma National Guard from employment discrimination.

Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee Chair Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, explained that the bill provides the same employment protections for Oklahoma National Guard members whether they are called to federal active duty by the president under Title 10 or the governor of Oklahoma under Title 32.       

“Currently, Oklahoma National Guard members called up for federal active duty by the president are protected by federal law and know when they return, their jobs will be waiting for them,” Simpson said. “Unfortunately, if they are activated by the governor for a national emergency in the states, they don’t have that same employment protection.”   

HB 2545 provides that any National Guard member who has to leave their job due to active duty must be re-employed when their service is complete as long as they provide advance notice to the employer and their absence is no longer than five years cumulatively. The member must submit a reemployment application upon their return.