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Subcommittee advances bill to protect Civil Air Patrol volunteers’ leave for missions and training
Summary
The Civil Air Patrol Leave Act (S.1043) was reported favorably by a Senate subcommittee after testimony from CAP leaders who said the measure would give volunteers leave—up to 30 days for operational missions and up to 10 days for training—and protect state employees with paid time off.
A state Senate subcommittee reported S.1043, the Civil Air Patrol Leave Act, favorably after wing leaders and volunteer members described frequent, multi‑day missions and urged statutory job protections so volunteers can attend emergencies and required training.
Senator Adams, a sponsor, summarized the bill and said Civil Air Patrol (CAP) teaches young people professional and emergency response skills and provides critical search‑and‑rescue and disaster‑assessment capabilities. "It gives them the ability ... to where that employer would give them leave to go to training or emergency responses," he said.
James Rogan, who identified himself as the South Carolina wing commander of Civil Air Patrol, said CAP is a federally chartered nonprofit and that its members are unpaid volunteers who often pay to participate. He listed recent mission statistics—1,564 flight hours and a volunteer value he estimated at $4,000,000 in 2024—and said many volunteers cannot take time off work for prolonged activations. "This act would allow them to have leave without pay if they're not a state employee. If they are a state employee, we were asking for, paid time off for that," Rogan said.
Other CAP witnesses described real operational impacts. Lane Huey, a group commander, recounted flying photographs after Hurricane Helene and said prolonged missions can strain volunteers' employment and family obligations. Lt. Col. Rachel Mercer, deputy commander, described lengthy missions during Hurricane Florence and the challenge of securing multi‑day FEMA courses for full‑time employees; she said the bill would remove a barrier to training and readiness. Tyler Hoover, a CAP member and a state hazard mitigation planner, outlined the bill's mechanics, saying it provides 30 days of operational leave and 10 days for qualifying training and is intended for activations or training rather than general use.
Senators on the subcommittee voiced support and related experiences in military or emergency service roles. After testimony and questions about mission activation and the role of memoranda of understanding with state emergency management, a committee member moved and another seconded a favorable report on S.1043. The chair called for a voice vote; the motion carried and the bill was reported favorably to the full committee.
The bill's text and any appropriation for paid leave (for state employees) or protections for private employees remain to be decided by the full committee and the appropriations process.
