Sec. 26.05.075. - Reemployment rights of the organized militia.
(a) An employer shall grant to an employee who is a member of the organized militia a leave of absence to perform active state service under AS 26.05.070 .
(b) When an employee is released from a period of active state service under AS 26.05.070 or discharged from hospitalization that arose from active state service, the employee is entitled to return to the employee's former position, or a comparable position, at the pay, seniority, and benefit level the employee would have had if the employee had not been absent as a result of active state service. An employee, other than an employee who has been hospitalized, shall report for work at the beginning of the workday following the last calendar day necessary to travel from the site of active state service to the employee's work site. An employee who has been hospitalized shall report for work at the beginning of the workday following the last calendar day necessary to travel from the hospital or place of recuperation to the employee's work site. If the employee fails to return to work at that time, the employer may impose whatever discipline is provided by the employer's rules of conduct for unexcused absence from work.
(c) If an employee is not qualified to perform the duties of the employee's position as a result of permanent disability sustained because of the employee's active state service but is qualified to perform the duties of another position with the employer, the employer shall offer an employee who requests reemployment the available, vacant position that most closely approximates the pay and benefits of the employee's previous position and that the employee is qualified for and capable of performing. An employee loses the right to reemployment under this subsection unless the employee requests reemployment within 30 days after receiving a statement from the employee's treating physician indicating both that the employee has reached maximum recovery and that the employee is released to return to full-time work.
(d) For employees other than state employees, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall enforce this section by appropriate regulations. For state employees, the division of personnel in the Department of Administration shall enforce this section. Regulations adopted under this section may provide for orders of reinstatement and back pay if appropriate. For employees other than state employees, contested cases arising under this section are to be handled under AS 44.62.330 - 44.62.630. Appeals involving state employees must be made to the personnel board under the procedure set out in the state's personnel rules for grievances.
(e) Notwithstanding (f) of this section, a person aggrieved under this section may bring an action in superior court no sooner than 30 days after giving notice to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, or, in the case of a state employee, to the director of the division of personnel. The action must be brought within two years after the claim arose.
(f) A collective bargaining agreement entered into in the state after September 2, 1990 may not contain provisions contrary to this subsection.
(g) This section does not affect AS 39.20.340 or 39.20.350 governing paid leave and reinstatement of state and local employees for certain military activities.