TO AMEND THE UNIFORM ATTENDANCE AND LEAVE POLICY ACT; AND TO APPLY MILITARY SERVICE CREDIT TO A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE'S TOTAL SERVICE TIME FOR ANNUAL LEAVE ACCRUAL CALCULATION.

SB 357 amends Arkansas' leave policy to allow public employees with military service to count that time toward their annual leave accrual. It specifically applies to state employees who were honorably discharged, served in the Arkansas National Guard or military reserves before state employment, or currently serve in those units. To qualify, employees must provide documentation like military service records (e.g., NGB Form 23A or DA Form 5016), and military service credit is calculated based on documented points divided by 365 days. The bill excludes credit for active-duty service performed while concurrently employed by the state. This policy change directly affects eligible public employees by increasing their annual leave entitlement based on prior military service.