Kane County Reporter

Stephanie A. Kifowit introduced HB1362 in the Illinois House on Jan. 14, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Service Member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. In a provision concerning differential compensation, changes the definition of "work days" to mean the actual number of shifts (rather than days) the employee would have worked during the period of military leave but for the service member's military obligation. Further provides that work days are tabulated without regard for the number of hours in a shift (rather than work day), regardless if the shift extends into the next day. Removes a provision providing that work hours that extend into the next calendar day count as 2 work days."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Service Member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, providing more detailed definitions related to military service and outlining provisions for differential compensation for public employees on military leave. It defines terms such as active duty, inactive duty, and military leave, clarifying the rights of service members in employment contexts. Public employees on military leave for training can receive full compensation for up to 30 days per year and differential compensation for longer active service, though restrictions apply for voluntary service. Employees can choose to use accrued leave rather than differential pay during military leave. The bill also sets conditions for the continuation of health benefits and addresses employer obligations when multiple employees are mobilized. The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Kifowitz graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1994 with a BS and again in 1997 from Northern Illinois University with an MPA.

Stephanie A. Kifowitz is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 84th House District. She replaced previous state representative Tom Cross in 2013.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1362	01/14/2025	Amends the Service Member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. In a provision concerning differential compensation, changes the definition of "work days" to mean the actual number of shifts (rather than days) the employee would have worked during the period of military leave but for the service member's military obligation. Further provides that work days are tabulated without regard for the number of hours in a shift (rather than work day), regardless if the shift extends into the next day. Removes a provision providing that work hours that extend into the next calendar day count as 2 work days.