§15-5-15a. Paid leave for disaster service volunteers.

Any state employee who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red Cross may be granted leave from his or her state employment with pay, for not more than fifteen work days in each year, to participate in specialized disaster relief services for the American Red Cross. Leave shall be granted under this section upon the request of the American Red Cross for the services of that employee and only upon the approval of that employee's immediate supervisor. Leave shall be granted without loss of pay, annual leave, sick leave, earned overtime compensation, seniority or compensatory time. The state shall compensate an employee granted leave under this section at the employee's regular rate of pay for those regular work hours during which the employee is absent from his or her state employment. Any supervisor granting leave to an employee for purposes of participating in specialized disaster relief shall make a report to the Governor which includes the name of the employee and the cost of salary and benefits of that employee during the period of the leave. The Governor shall keep a record of the total cost of the salary and benefits of employees who have been granted leave and in no event shall the total cost for all state agencies exceed $100,000: Provided, That upon approval of the Governor and repayment of the cost to the employing agency, from the civil contingent fund, leave may be granted in an excess of a total cost of $100,000 if a state of emergency has been proclaimed pursuant to section six of this article.