(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any officer or employee of the state not subject to Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 19770) of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code, or any public officer, deputy, assistant, or employee of any city, county, city and county, school district, water district, irrigation district, or any other district, political corporation, political subdivision, or governmental agency thereof who, in time of war or national emergency as proclaimed by the President or Congress, or when any of the armed forces of the United States are serving outside of the United States or their territories pursuant to order or request of the United Nations, or while any national conscription act is in effect, leaves or has left his or her office or position prior to the end of the war, or the termination of the national emergency or during the effective period of any order or request of this type of the United Nations or prior to the expiration of the National Conscription Act, to join the armed forces of the United States and who does or did without unreasonable and unnecessary delay join the armed forces or, being a member of any reserve force or corps of any of the armed forces of the United States or of the militia of this state, is or was ordered to duty therewith by competent military authority and served or serves in compliance with those orders, shall have a right, if released, separated or discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, to return to and reenter upon the office or position within six months after the termination of his or her active service with the armed forces, but not later than six months after the end of the war or national emergency or military or police operations under the United Nations or after the Governor finds and proclaims that, for the purposes of this section, the war, national emergency, or United Nations military or police operation no longer exists, or after the expiration of the National Conscription Act, if the term for which he or she was elected or appointed has not ended during his or her absence; provided, that the right to return to and reenter upon the office or position shall not extend to or be granted to any officer or employee of the state not subject to Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 19770) of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code, or any public officer, deputy, assistant, or employee of any city, county, city and county, school district, water district, irrigation district or any other district, political corporation, political subdivision or governmental agency thereof, who shall fail to return to and reenter upon his or her office or position within 12 months after the first date upon which he or she could terminate or could cause to have terminated his or her active service with the armed forces of the United States or of the militia of this state. He or she shall also have a right to return to and reenter upon the office or position during terminal leave from the armed forces and prior to discharge, separation or release therefrom.

(b) Upon return and reentry to the office or employment the officer or employee shall have all of the rights and privileges in, connected with, or arising out of the office or employment which he or she would have enjoyed if he or she had not been absent therefrom; provided, however, the officer or employee shall not be entitled to sick leave, vacation or salary for the period during which he or she was on leave from that governmental service and in the service of the armed forces of the United States.

If the office or position has been abolished or otherwise has ceased to exist during his or her absence, he or she shall be reinstated in a position of like seniority, status and pay if the position exists, or to a comparable vacant position for which he or she is qualified.

(c) Any officer or employee other than a probationer who is restored to his or her office or employment pursuant to this act shall not be discharged from that office or position without cause within one year after the restoration, and shall be entitled to participate in insurance or other benefits offered by the employing governmental agency pursuant to established rules and practices relating to those officers or employees on furlough or leave of absence in effect at the time the officer or employee left his or her office or position to join the armed forces of the United States.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, any enlisted person who was involuntarily ordered to active duty (other than for training) for a stated duration shall not lose any right or benefit conferred under this code if he or she voluntarily elects to complete the period of that duty.

(e) If the provisions of this section are in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if such provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 146, Sec. 161. Effective January 1, 1995.)