Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes school employees to donate leave to coworkers impacted by a Governor-declared state of emergency in California.

Highlights:

• Establishes a Catastrophic Leave Program allowing employees to donate eligible leave credits to an employee when that employee or member of the employee’s family sufferers from a catastrophic illness or injury (Sec 1A).

• Authorizes eligible leave credits to be donated if all of the following requirements are met (Sec 1C):

• The employee requesting leave credits provides verification of catastrophic injury or illness to the governing board or body of the school district, county office of education, or charter school in which the employee is employed;

• The governing body determines that the employee is suffering and unable to work because of a catastrophic illness or injury; and

• The employee has exhausted all accrued paid leave credits.

• Specifies that eligible leave credits must be donated at a minimum of 8 hours and in one hour increments thereafter (Sec. 1D)

• Requires all governing bodies establishing a Catastrophic Leave Program to adhere to the following regulations (Sec 1E):

• Donated leave credits may not exceed use for a maximum period of 12 consecutive months;

• Catastrophic injury or illness is verified as required by pursuant; and

• All transfers of eligible leave credit are irrevocable.

• Requires the pursuant to use any leave credits that they continue to accrue before receiving paid leave (Sec 1F).

• Authorizes the governing board or body of the school district, county office of education, or charter school to include a collective bargaining agreement as a provision of the Catastrophic Leave Program (Sec 1G).

• Authorizes the use of the Catastrophic Leave Program for employees impacted by a state of emergency if (Sec 2):

• The governing board or body of the school district, county office of education, or charter school determines the employee is unable to work due to the impact of the state of emergency;

• The employee provides verification of the impact of the state of emergency; and

• The employee has exhausted all accrued paid leave credits.

• Specifies that this Act takes effect immediately upon passage (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text