Legislation that closes an unintended loophole in the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERA) sailed unanimously through the Illinois Senate on Wednesday and is now headed to the Governor’s desk. State Senator Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) is the Chief Senate Sponsor of House Bill 1362.
“Military personnel engaged in military service, including training events, National Guard work, or drill weekends, are guaranteed through the USERA not to receive a reduction in pay or benefits from their normal jobs due to their military service,” said Wilcox. “However, instances emerged when individuals who worked shifts that crossed over the midnight hour and into a different calendar day were experiencing a disparity in pay. HB 1362 adds clarifying language to the Act to remedy the problem.”
The bill is an initiative of the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission. It passed unanimously in the House of Representatives in April and will be sent to the Governor in the coming weeks.