RALEIGH - State employees who get the smallpox vaccine wouldn't have to take sick leave if the immunization makes them ill and would continue to be covered by their health insurance under legislation approved Tuesday by a Senate committee.

Nearly 300,000 physicians, police officers, firefighters and hospital workers in North Carolina soon could be offered the vaccine as part of the federal Homeland Security Act to protect them from a potential bioterrorism attack.

Only a small percentage of the first health professionals given the chance to be vaccinated this year actually did so. Many were concerned about its side effects. There also was no federal compensation program for anyone injured by the shots.

President Bush signed such a plan into law April 30. The state plan recommended by the Senate Judiciary I Committee would serve as a secondary source of benefits for patients not fully covered under federal law.

The state legislation provides greater assurances to people who are on the front lines of treating victims of bioterrorism, said Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, a co-sponsor of the bill.

The legislation, already approved by the House, would give full pay for 12 weeks to employees who couldn't work after suffering an adverse medical reaction to the vaccine.

The reaction also would be added to the list of work-related illnesses covered by worker's compensation.