§ 246. Leave of absence for public employees who are war veterans to
continue study. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the
contrary, every public officer and employee, who served in the armed
forces of the United States on or after September sixteenth, nineteen
hundred forty, and prior to the termination of hostilities in world war
II, or during the period of hostilities engaged in by the armed forces
of the United States on and after June twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred
fifty, or who served in the armed forces of the United States after
January thirty-first, nineteen hundred fifty-five, and who is eligible
under the provisions enacted by the congress of the United States known
as "Servicemen's Readjustment Act of nineteen hundred forty-four," or
"Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of nineteen hundred fifty-two,"
or "Veterans' Readjustment Benefits Act of nineteen hundred sixty-six,"
to continue the pursuit of studies or to take a refresher or retraining
course shall be granted a leave of absence from his position for the
period of such course of study, not to exceed four years. Such public
officer or employee shall be reinstated to his position provided he
makes application for such reinstatement within sixty days after the
termination of such course of study.