COLUMBUS (November 20, 2001) — Governor Bob Taft today approved legislation that ensures state employees who are on active military duty suffer no loss of pay or health care benefits. Senator Larry Mumper (R-Marion ) and Assistant Adjutant Generals Paul Sullivan and Ron Young accompanied Taft at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base for the bill signing. “Our guardsmen and reservists should not suffer an undue financial hardship when our nation calls on them to serve,” said Taft. “This bill ensures Ohio will be there for our men and women in the military while they are there for our state and nation.” Current law grants state employees one-month (22 days) per calendar year of state paid military leave. After one month the employee is paid either the lesser of two options: the difference of the employee’s gross monthly wage and the sum of the uniformed pay and allowanced received or five hundred dollars, maximum. Current law also does not continue health benefits to the employee after the one-month period. Senate Bill 164 removes the $500 limit and pays the full differential between state and military pay and allowances, and provides for the continuation of health care benefits. Payments are retroactive to October 1, 2001, covering those guardsmen and reservists called to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom. Senate Bill 164 also contains land conveyance clauses.