Reps. Farhat, Kooiman, Hummel, Ward, Hildenbrand, Accavitti, Acciavatti, Anderson, Angerer, Ball, Bieda, Booher, Brandenburg, Brown, Byrum, Casperson, Caul, Clack, Cushingberry, Espinoza, Farrah, Garfield, Gillard, Gonzales, Green, Hansen, Hopgood, Jones, Kolb, LaJoy, David Law, Kathleen Law, Lemmons, Jr., Lipsey, Mayes, McDowell, Meyer, Miller, Moore, Mortimer, Murphy, Newell, Nitz, Nofs, Palmer, Plakas, Polidori, Proos, Sak, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Alma Smith, Spade, Stahl, Stakoe, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Vander Veen, Waters, Zelenko and Gleason offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 292.

            A resolution to urge the Civil Service Commission to extend the sunset on the special pay provisions for members of Reserve or National Guard units who are ordered to active duty.

            Whereas, On September 11, 2001, our nation was attacked. Nearly 3,000 people were murdered in New York City, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. Since that morning nearly five years ago, we have been at war. In this war, elements of our National Guard and service reserves have been on continuous duty, mobilized to support our active component military; and

            Whereas, Rule 2-14 of the Civil Service Commission contains a special pay provision that provides that any state employee in a career appointment who is a member of a Reserve or National Guard unit who enters emergency active duty after September 11, 2001, shall be eligible for the special pay provision for the duration of their active duty in the uniformed services. This provision as currently written is scheduled to end on September 30, 2006. Without an extension, the eligibility for special pay under this rule will be limited to a period of the first 30 days of service; and

            Whereas, By authorizing special pay for state employees mobilized to serve during war, our state demonstrates admirable solidarity with and support for our reservists who have been called from their families to serve on active duty. This special pay helps the families of our mobilized employees avoid financial hardship and reduces the worries of our National Guard and Reserve members about their families back home. Our Reserve and National Guard personnel continue to serve with distinction. It would be a tragic mistake to let them down by allowing this special pay provision to lapse; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Civil Service Commission to extend the sunset on the special pay provisions for members of Reserve or National Guard units who are ordered to active duty; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the state Civil Service Commission.