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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.

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.