(1) During a period of military conflict, an employee who works an average of 20 or more hours a week and who is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, National Guard, or Reserves who has been notified of an impending call or order to active duty or has been deployed is entitled to a total of 15 days of unpaid leave per deployment after the military spouse has been notified of an impending call or order to active duty and before deployment or when the military spouse is on leave from deployment. “Period of military conflict” means a period of war declared by the United States Congress, declared by executive order of the President, or in which a member of a reserve component of the armed forces is ordered to active duty pursuant to either Sections 12301 and 12302 of Title 10 of the United States Code or Title 32 of the United States Code. An employee who takes leave under this policy may elect to use accrued paid leave in connection with the military family leave.

(2) An employee who takes leave under this policy shall be restored to a position of employment in the same manner as an employee entitled to leave under Chapter 49.78 RCW is restored to a position of employment. The district shall continue benefits for an employee on military family leave in the same manner as an employee entitled to leave under Chapter 49.78 RCW continues benefits, as specified in RCW 49.78.290.

(3) An employee who seeks to take leave under this section must provide the district with notice, within five business days of receiving official notice of an impending call or order to active duty or of a leave from deployment, of the employee’s intention to take leave under this section. [Res. 767 § 3.7, 2018.]