(a) It is declared to be the intent of the General Assembly that any person who holds an other than temporary position in the employ of the State of Arkansas shall not be denied retention in employment or any promotion or other incident or advantage of employment or transferred involuntarily to another position because the person is a member of a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces.
(b) The provisions of the reemployment rights protections of § 12-62-413 and the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act of 1994 as in effect on January 1, 2003, shall be applicable, and the refusal of any state official to comply therewith shall subject him or her to removal from office.
(c) This section shall be retroactive and shall take effect as of the date of the entry of any state employee into one (1) of the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces.