On October 28, 2009, President Obama signed H.R. 2647 (the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act) into law. This new law includes two expansions of the recently-enacted exigency and caregiver leave provisions for military families under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).
- The National Defense Authorization Act expands the exigency leave benefits to include family members of active duty service members. Under prior law, only family members of National Guard and Reservists were eligible for exigency leave.
- The National Defense Authorization Act also expands the caregiver leave provision to include veterans who are undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy for serious injury or illness that occurred any time during the five years preceding the date of treatment.
These provisions are effective immediately.
