§ 34-55-201 — Prohibition on termination -- Loss of compensation -- Permitted request for statement.

(1) (1)(a) An employer may not terminate the employment of an employee solely for being an emergency services volunteer.
(1)(b) An employer may not terminate the employment of an employee who is an emergency services volunteer for being absent from or late to work, if at the time the employee is absent from or late to work the employee is responding to an emergency as an emergency services volunteer.
(2) An employer may reduce the regular pay of an employee who is an emergency services volunteer for time the employee misses work because the employee is responding to an emergency as an emergency services volunteer.
(3) An employer may request that an employee who is an emergency services volunteer and misses time from work to respond to an emergency provide the employer with a written statement that:

(3)(a) is from the supervisor or acting supervisor of the employee when the employee is in the course of performing duties as an emergency services volunteer;
(3)(b) states that the employee responded to an emergency; and
(3)(c) states the time and date of the employee's service as an emergency services volunteer.
(4) (4)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), if an employee who is an emergency services volunteer responds to an emergency as an emergency services volunteer, the employee shall make a reasonable effort to notify the employee's employer of any absence from or tardiness to work because of that response.
(4)(b) If an employee is an emergency services volunteer and is a full-time employee of a public safety agency, the employee shall, before responding to an emergency, obtain permission from the employee's public safety agency employer to respond to the emergency.

Legislative History

Enacted by Chapter 126, 2019 General Session