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STATE EMPLOYEE LEAVE POLICY AMENDMENTS

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2018 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Norman K. Thurston

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Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill broadens the scope of paid leave that is available to state employees for certain
10     disaster relief services.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     allows certain state employees to take paid leave to provide certain volunteer
14     disaster relief services in connection with any disaster relief organization.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          None
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     AMENDS:
21          34-43-103, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1998, Chapter 186
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23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 34-43-103 is amended to read:
25          34-43-103. Leave of absence -- Request for leave -- Approval by agency.
26          (1) An employee of a state agency who is a certified disaster service volunteer may be
27     granted leave from work with pay for an aggregate of up to 15 work days, consecutively or
28     nonconsecutively, in any 12-month period to participate in disaster relief services for [the
29     American Red Cross] a disaster relief organization in connection with any disaster, upon the
30     [request of the American Red Cross for such] disaster relief organization's request for the
31     employee's services.
32          (2) An employee of a state agency requesting leave under this chapter shall file a
33     written request with the employing state agency which includes:
34          (a) the anticipated duration of the leave of absence;
35          (b) the type of service the employee is to provide on behalf of the [American Red
36     Cross] disaster relief organization described in Subsection (1);
37          (c) the nature and location of the disaster where the employee's services will be
38     provided; and
39          (d) a copy of the written request for the employee's services from an official of the
40     [American Red Cross] disaster relief organization.
41          (3) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to require any state agency to
42     grant a public employee's request for voluntary disaster service leave if the employing state
43     agency determines that the grant of leave would pose a hardship on the employing state agency.