CITY OF SEATTLE

ORDINANCE __________________

COUNCIL BILL __________________

AN ORDINANCE relating to City employment; adding a new section to Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 4.20 to provide a wage supplement and insurance benefits for employees who are mobilized by the United States Armed Forces for active military service.

WHEREAS, the City has supported its employees called to active military duty in the wake of military action resulting from the terrorists attacks on September 11, 2001 by providing for the extension of employee benefits and by providing for a wage supplement to ensure employees do not experience a loss of pay while they are on active military duty, as authorized by Ordinances 120682, 121058, 121369, 121692, 121885, 122418, 123506 and 124090; and

WHEREAS, Ordinance 124090, which authorizes the extension of employee benefits and the wage supplement expires on December 31, 2014; and

WHEREAS, City of Seattle employees who are members of the United States Military Reserves and the National Guard will continue to be activated for duty beyond December 31, 2014; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor and the City Council resolve to support City employees who are ordered to active military duty by the United States government; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. A new Section 4.20.180 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows:

4.20.180 -Active Military Duty -No Loss of Pay or Benefits

A. Effective January 1, 2015, any employee of the City of Seattle who is ordered to active military duty by the United States government and who has exhausted his or her annual paid military leave benefit and is on unpaid military leave of absence shall be eligible to receive the difference between his or her base military wage and the regular base rate of pay he or she would have received for his or her City position, if higher. Employees shall be eligible for the wage supplement provided by this section pursuant to program guidelines and procedures developed by the Seattle Human Resources Director consistent with Internal Revenue Service regulations.

B. Effective January 1, 2015, any employee of the City of Seattle who is ordered to active military duty by the United States government and who has exhausted his or her annual paid military leave benefit and is on unpaid military leave of absence shall be eligible to retain the medical, dental and vision services coverage and optional insurance coverage for the employee's eligible dependents provided as a benefit of employment with the City of Seattle, at the same level and under the same conditions as though the employee was in the City's employ, pursuant to program guidelines and procedures developed by the Seattle Human Resources Director and pursuant to the City's administrative contracts and insurance policies. Optional insurance includes but is not necessarily limited to Group Term Life (Basic and Supplemental), Long Term Disability, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment. Eligibility for coverage shall be effective for the duration of the employee's active deployment.

Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.

Passed by the City Council the ____ day of ________________________, 2014, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this

_____ day of ___________________, 2014.

_________________________________

President __________of the City Council

Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2014.

_________________________________

Edward B. Murray, Mayor

Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2014.

____________________________________

Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

(Seal)

Susan Coskey/David Bracilano/sb SDHR Military Pay and Benefits ORD November 3, 2014 Version #3