2396

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 391

(2)  WHILE A PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO
ALLOW A PARENT OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN TO BE ABSENT FROM STATE
SERVICE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, THE PROGRAM IS IN NO WAY
RESTRICTED AS TO THE TIME OF YEAR OR THE EMPLOYEE'S REASON FOR
MAKING THE REQUEST.

(3)  THE PRACTICABILITY OF GRANTING SEASONAL LEAVE
SHALL BE DETERMINED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS FOR EACH EMPLOYEE.

(C)  THE SECRETARY OF PERSONNEL SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS
ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES UNDER WHICH AN EMPLOYEE, UPON REQUEST,
MAY BE GRANTED A SEASONAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE WITHOUT PAY, SUBJECT
TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION.

(D)  THE REGULATIONS REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL
PROVIDE THAT:

(1)  SEASONAL LEAVE MAY BE GRANTED TO AN EMPLOYEE FOR
A PERIOD OF NOT MORE THAN 12 WEEKS;

(2)  IN EACH INSTANCE, THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY SHALL
MAKE A DETERMINATION WHETHER SEASONAL LEAVE MAY BE GRANTED TO AN
EMPLOYEE, BASED UPON:

(I)  THE POTENTIAL DISRUPTION TO THE EFFICIENT
OPERATION OF THE AGENCY; AND

(II)  THE AGENCY'S ANTICIPATED WORKLOAD DURING
THE PERIOD FOR WHICH SEASONAL LEAVE IS REQUESTED;

(3)  THE PERIOD OF SEASONAL LEAVE MAY NOT BE COUNTED
AS TIME IN STATE SERVICE FOR RETIREMENT OR OTHER PURPOSES;

(4)  SEASONAL LEAVE MAY NOT BE GRANTED TO AN EMPLOYEE
WHO HAS NOT COMPLETED A PROBATIONARY PERIOD; AND

(5)  HEALTH CARE AND OTHER BENEFITS SHALL BE SUSPENDED
FOR THE PERIOD OF THE SEASONAL LEAVE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE
EMPLOYEE MAY CONTINUE SUCH BENEFITS BY PAYING THEIR FULL COST,
INCLUDING THE SHARE ORDINARILY PAID BY THE STATE.

(E) A STATE EMPLOYER MAY NOT REQUIRE A STATE EMPLOYEE TO
TAKE SEASONAL LEAVE WITHOUT PAY.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1984.

Approved May 15, 1984.