Washington (eCanadaNow) - President Bush signed a new law at the end of January.  The new law will assist families in the military that have a family member headed off for deployment. It also works to give an extension to those families who have a military member that is injured in the service to their country.

This new Family and Medical Leave Act expansion was widely welcomed as a positive event, and was made official with the Presidents signature.  

Children, Spouses, parents or other immediate next of kin to a service member who is ill, or seriously injured can now take up to twenty six weeks of leave in a twelve month period to help or assist in their cares. 

This new law also includes the Reserves, and the National Guard.

The new law is a little bit different.  The new application is usable only ones; the original elements of the FMLA allow twelve weeks in every twelve-month period. 

This new provision allows only one twenty-six week leave, once in a twelve month period.  After that, there is no provision under the law for another period of unpaid leave.

The new law is pending until the Department of Labor works out final implementation regulations.  This is expected within a short amount of time.