COLUMBIA, S.C. - A bill Gov. Mark Sanford signed Tuesday keeps state workers called up for active duty in the military from losing pay.

The legislation lets the workers continue to receive up to 30 days of paid military leave from their state jobs for service tied to Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Noble Eagle. That benefit goes to workers who are called up to U.S. or overseas duty because of those operations.

The state had paid the benefit previously, but it was taken out of the state budget this year during a conference committee, Rep. James Smith, D-Columbia and a bill co-sponsor said.

Smith and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, rushed the bill through the Legislature in the last couple of days of the session last month.

"When we have state employees who have committed themselves to serving their country in that fashion, we should honor them," Smith said.