Executive Order 2003-10 ENSURING BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS FOR ARIZONA SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN the President of the United States has exercised his authority pursuant to Section 12302 of Title 10 of the United States Code and ordered selected members of the Arizona National Guard to federal active duty for a period of up to one year in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle; and
WHEREAS, WHEREAS,
as of March 12, 2003, approximately 1460 Arizona Army National Guard soldiers and Arizona Air National Guard airmen have been ordered to federal active duty since September 22, 2002 in addition to over 1300 Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force Reserve personnel; and
the State of Arizona should take all necessary and appropriate steps to assist troops and their families who face potential added expenses and disruptions caused by being called to active duty in the nation's ongoing war against terrorism and possible military action in Iraq.
WHEREAS, NOW, THEREFORE,
I, Janet Napolitano, Governor of Arizona, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of this State, hereby order and direct as follows: 1. All State agency heads shall review agency policies to assess whether they can and should be modified to provide additional protections and/or benefits to state employees who have been called to active military duty since September 2002; 2. The Directors of Homeland Security and the Department of Public Safety shall assess the impact of military call-ups on first responders, including law enforcement, firefighters and paramedics and the readiness of our cities and counties to perform their duties and to respond to Homeland Security needs; 3. The Director of the Department of Administration and the Adjutant General of the Arizona Guard shall examine pay differential for exempt state employees between state salary and military salary and make recommendations as to appropriate adjustments that should be made to assist exempt state employees who have been called to active military duty since September 2002; 4. The Director of the Department of Administration shall provide draft legislation to expand A.R.S. section 41-783(17)(a) to apply to military personnel to allow the transfer of accumulated leave from one employee to another employee in state government; 5. The Director of the Department of Administration shall extend the continuity of health care and life insurance benefits for at least 12 months to state employees called up for military active duty; 6. The Director of the Department of Insurance shall take appropriate measures to protect the rights of military personnel to continue, suspend or convert health insurance benefits during times of active duty;
Executive Order 2003-10 Page 2 7. The Director of the Department of Health Services and applicable State Boards shall provide automatic extensions for health care and other relevant professional licenses to military personnel who are engaged in active duty; 8. The Director of the Department of Transportation shall provide a one-year exemption for vehicle license tax and registration fees and implement measures to expedite services to military personnel while engaged in active duty. 9. The Arizona State Parks Board shall provide free or reduced admission to Arizona State parks for Reserve, National Guard and state militia troops and their families; 10. The Adjutant General of the Arizona National Guard shall establish and publicize a listing of merchants who agree to provide price discounts for merchandise and services for all military personnel; 11. The Arizona Boards of Regents and the Chancellors of the state community college systems shall evaluate the financial feasibility of providing children, spouses, and dependents of Arizona Military personnel killed during the war on terrorism or possible military action in Iraq, as well as severely disabled combat survivors, with undergraduate awards to cover the costs of attending institutions of the State universities. 12. The Director of the Department of Revenue shall review and ensure full compliance with federal law extending tax return filing dates and other required payments and reports for military personnel serving in a combat zone. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arizona.
GOVERNOR Done at the Capitol in Phoenix this Nineteenth day of March Two Thousand Three and of the Independence of the United States of America the Two Hundred and Twenty-Seventh ATTEST:
Secretary of State
