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Other Paid Leaves
Eligible employees are entitled to take paid time off for various other activities,
such as fighting a fire as a volunteer or donating blood, an organ, or bone marrow. Eligible
employees may also take sufficient time off in those instances where they are not able to vote
before or after their scheduled work shift. Employees may use these types of paid leaves
without using their earned vacation, sick leave, or compensatory time. This section of paid
leave is governed by System Regulation 31.03.03 – Leave of Absence With Pay and University
Rule 31.03.03.M1 – Leave of Absence With Pay.
Leave of Absence for Volunteer Firefighters
Emergency leave may be granted to a state employee who is a volunteer firefighter and is needed
to be actively involved in fighting a fire during the employee’s regular working hours.
General Provisions
- Paid leave for a voluntary firefighter will apply only in those instances where the employee
is needed to be actively involved in fighting a fire during the employee’s regular working hours.
- Verification of firefighting duties should be provided by a written statement from the Fire Chief of the volunteer fire department responsible for fighting the fire.
- Employees who are volunteer firefighters will be granted up to five (5) working days in any one fiscal year to attend training schools conducted by state agencies.
Organ, Bone Marrow, or Blood Donors
An employee will be granted up to five working days in a fiscal year to serve as a bone marrow
donor and up to 30 working days in a fiscal year to serve as an organ donor. An employee will be
granted sufficient paid time (up to four times per fiscal year) to donate blood.
General Provisions
- The employee must consult with his or her supervisor before taking time off to donate blood and
must provide proof of donation upon return.
- The donation of plasma does not constitute paid time off for purposes of paid leave for blood
donation. Employees who need time off to donate plasma must use their earned vacation time or
other appropriate personal leave.
Voting Leave
Employees will be allowed sufficient time off to vote in national, state, and local elections.
Supervisors should consult with each of their employees before the election day to determine which
employee(s) will not have sufficient time to vote before or after their scheduled work shifts so that
appropriate coverage can be maintained in their respective work areas. Employees should notify their
supervisor if they do not have sufficient time to vote on their own time.
Supervisors may schedule voting leave by allowing the employee to:
- arrive to work later than normally scheduled in order to allow sufficient
time to vote before the workday;
- leave work early without the expectation to return in order to allow sufficient time to vote; or
- take a longer lunch than is normally scheduled in order to vote.
Note: Paid voting leave should be used by eligible employees in instances where the employee actually missed work to vote without making up the time. The time off should be reasonable and as agreed to in advance upon consultation with the employee’s supervisor.
LeaveTraq Users: Voting leave is coded under leave types leave of absence with pay and voting leave.
Court Appointed Special Advocates Leave
Court appointed special advocates (CASA) are volunteers selected by the state’s judicial system to, among other duties, provide detailed information a court may need to ensure a child’s best interest is served where residency or other matters are concerned. General guidelines of CASA leave are as follows:
- Employees who are CASA volunteers are eligible for paid leave not to exceed five (5) hours each month to participate in mandatory training or to perform volunteer services for CASA.
- An employee may be required to provide documentation of his/her CASA volunteer status to his/her supervisor before the leave is approved.
Additional CASA Information:
Texas CASA Mission
How to Become a CASA
CASA of Brazos Valley: Voices for Children
LeaveTraq Users:CASA leave is coded under leave types and leave of absence with pay and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
Additional Information
