LANSING – The state House on Tuesday passed a plan to protect the families of Michigan servicemembers killed while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Charlie's Bill" requires employers to provide a brief period of paid bereavement leave for a spouse, parent or child of a servicemember killed on active duty.
"In the event that a man or woman serving in our armed forces has to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect us, their families should be protected," said State Representative Mike Simpson (D-Liberty Township). "Arranging a funeral takes time and drains emotions. The last thing our military families should have to worry about is losing a paycheck during their time of need."
Charlie's Bill is named in honor of U.S. Army Sgt. Charles "Charlie" Drier of Tuscola County, who was killed during combat in Iraq in May 2005. He was 28. The House plan requires employers to grant paid bereavement leave of up to 10 days or 80 hours. It also prohibits an employer from firing or punishing any employee who requests or takes the leave.
Simpson said he was pleased that Charlie's Bill garnered bipartisan support. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 105 to 1. The plan now heads to the Senate.