HB0784 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 07973 JAM 28135 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB0784

Introduced 2/7/2007, by Rep. Mike Boland

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 335/3	from Ch. 127, par. 4053
5 ILCS 335/3.5 new

Amends the Disaster Service Volunteer Leave Act. Permits a State employee to take no more than 20 days of unpaid leave per 12-month period to participate in disaster relief, upon approval of the employee's State agency. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Disaster Service Volunteer Leave Act is amended by changing Section 3 and by adding Section 3.5 as follows:

(5 ILCS 335/3) (from Ch. 127, par. 4053)

Sec. 3. Disaster Service Volunteer Paid Leave. An employee of a State agency who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red Cross or assigned to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in accordance with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact Act, or other applicable administrative rules may be granted leave from his work with pay for not more than 20 working days in any 12-month period to participate in specialized disaster relief services for the American Red Cross or for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, as the case may be, upon the request of the American Red Cross or the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for the services of that employee and upon the approval of that employee's agency, without loss of seniority, pay, vacation time, compensatory time, personal days, sick time or earned overtime accumulation. The agency shall compensate an employee granted leave under this Section at his regular rate of pay for those regular work hours during which the employee is absent from his work. For purposes of assessing State disaster response needs, requests made pursuant to this Act for services out-of-state shall be coordinated by the American Red Cross and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency through the Illinois State Emergency Operations Center. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency may consult with the Department of Central Management Services on leave issues that could impact the operations of State agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction. Leave under this Act shall not be unreasonably denied for services related to a disaster within the United States or its territories.

(Source: P.A. 93-893, eff. 8-10-04.)

(5 ILCS 335/3.5 new)

Sec. 3.5. Disaster Service Volunteer Unpaid Leave. An employee of a State agency may be granted leave from his or her work without pay for not more than 20 working days in any 12-month period to volunteer to assist in efforts to provide relief to those persons and areas affected by a disaster upon the approval of that employee's agency. The employee may take additional unpaid leave for this purpose at the discretion of his or her agency. Before the leave the employee shall furnish proof satisfactory to his or her agency to substantiate the volunteer work to be done through a legitimate aide organization or governmental entity. An employee on such leave shall not accrue sick days, vacation days, or other benefits unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement. The employee, however, shall not lose any such benefits already accrued prior to the start of the unpaid leave. Insurance benefits may be maintained during the unpaid leave by the employee paying both the employee's and employer's shares of such insurance benefits.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.