DIFFERENTIAL PAY AND BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES OF EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS.

(a) A board may provide differential pay to a district employee who is a member of the state military forces or a reserve component of the United States armed forces who is called to active duty if:

(1) the board adopts a policy providing for differential pay for all similarly situated employees; and

(2) the employee's military pay is less than the employee's gross pay from the district.

(b) The combination of differential pay and military pay may not exceed the employee's actual gross pay from the district.

(c) For purposes of this section, military pay does not include money the employee receives:

(1) for service in a combat zone;

(2) as hardship pay; or

(3) for being separated from the employee's family.

(d) The differential pay provided by Subsection (a) begins when the benefits allowed under Section 437.202, Government Code, are exhausted and continues until the employee's active military duty terminates.

(e) The board may extend the insurance benefits provided by the district to a district employee who is a member of the state military forces or a reserve component of the United States armed forces who is called to active duty and to the employee's dependents. The extension period begins when the benefits allowed under Section 437.202, Government Code, are exhausted and continues until the employee's active military duty terminates.