Calling upon the City of Philadelphia to amend Civil Service Regulation 31.30 concerning special benefits for City employees called to active duty in the National Guard and Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States.

WHEREAS, hundreds of employees of the City of Philadelphia serve our country as members of the National Guard and the reserve components of the Armed Forces of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Such service is deeply appreciated by all the citizens of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia promulgated Civil Service Regulation 31.30 entitled, "Special Benefits for Employees Called to Active Duty in the National Guard, or in Any of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States in Response to the National Emergency Resulting from the Events of September 11, 2001"; and

WHEREAS, Regulation 31.30 provides for up to 15 additional days of paid military leave during the first calendar year of the time spent on military leave, regardless of other military leave used; a stipend of $500 per month for the amount of time spent on military leave without pay; continuation of medical and supplemental benefits; and continuation of City-paid group life insurance coverage; and

WHEREAS, The City Administration has determined that members of the Guard and Reserves are eligible for this 15 additional days of paid military leave only on their initial post September 11, 2001 activation but on no subsequent activations; and

WHEREAS, City employees are receiving orders to active duty in connection with the situation with Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Some of these members of the Guard and Reserve may have already exhausted their 15 additional days of paid military leave; and

WHEREAS, the lack of the 15 days additional paid military leave would create undue hardships on the families of City employees called to active duty for the second time since September 11, 2001; now therefore

RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia requests the City Administration to amend Civil Service Regulation 31.30 to provide for 15 additional days of paid military leave for the first and each subsequent activation after September 11, 2001; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, the Personnel Director of the City of Philadelphia and each member of the Civil Service Commission of the City of Philadelphia.

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