Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §813, as repealed and replaced by PL 2001, c. 662, §12, is amended to read:

§813. Remedies

1. Action authorized. If any employer fails to comply with any of the provisions of sections 811 and, 812 and 814, the Attorney General, Judge Advocates of the Maine National Guard or employee may bring a civil action for damages for such noncompliance or apply to the courts for such equitable relief as may be just and proper under the circumstances.

2. Award of fees; costs. In any civil action under section 811 or, 812 or 814, the court in its discretion may award reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §814 is enacted to read:

§814.__Report back to work

When a member of the National Guard or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces returns from a period of military training or service that is less than 31 days, the member is required to report for work no later than the beginning of the first regularly scheduled work period on the first full calendar day following the completion of the period of service and the expiration of 72 hours after a period allowing for the safe transportation of the person from the place of that service to the person's residence.

SUMMARY

Currently, federal law requires that a member of the National Guard or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces be allowed an 8-hour period between returning home and reporting back to work. This bill expands to 72 hours the period between returning home and reporting back to work.