Public Act 103-0220
 
SB1611 EnrolledLRB103 27270 AWJ 53641 b


  
    AN ACT concerning government.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the 
Firefighter Training Leave of Absence Act.
 
    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
    "Agency" means any branch, department, board, committee, 
or commission of State government. "Agency" does not include a 
unit of local government, school district, or board of 
election commissioners.
    "State employee" means a permanent, full-time employee who 
has been employed by an agency for a period of 6 months or more 
and is a member of any fire department or fire protection 
district recognized by the State Fire Marshal.

 
    Section 10. Leave of absence for firefighter training.
    (a) A State employee shall be granted leave from his or her 
State employment for firefighter training as follows:

        (1) on one occasion, for up to 200 hours, to 
    participate in training necessary to obtain Basic 
    Operations Firefighter certification from the State Fire 
    Marshal while attending a State Fire Marshal-approved fire 
    academy; and

        (2) special or advanced training annually, not to 
    exceed 80 hours, after obtaining Basic Operations 
    Firefighter certification from the State Fire Marshal for 
    courses that will lead to additional certification by the 
    State Fire Marshal.

    (b) The maximum leaves  of absence under this Act for any 
calendar year may not exceed 200 hours.  During a leave of 
absence, the employee's seniority and other benefits shall 
continue to accrue.

    (c) During a leave of absence for basic, special, or 
advanced training, the State employee shall continue to 
receive his or her regular compensation as a State employee. 
If the State employee receives compensation for basic, 
special, or advanced training, the State employee shall 
receive his or her regular compensation as a State employee 
minus the amount of his or her compensation for basic, 
special, or advanced training.

    (d) A State employee who wishes to obtain a leave of 
absence under this Act shall request in advance for the leave 
of absence and may take the leave of absence only after 
obtaining approval from the State employee's agency.
A leave 
of absence may not be denied to a State employee who requests 
leave under this Section and who has provided notification of 
the leave at least 14 calendar days prior to the requested 
leave date. A State employee who provides less than 14 
calendar days' notice of the leave may be denied leave if the 
State employee's agency demonstrates that the leave would 
create a health or safety hazard in the workplace. If the leave 
is denied, written notification must be provided to the 
employee within 24 hours after the employee's request for 
leave. Once the leave has been approved, approval for the 
leave may not be rescinded.
 
    Section 15. Rules. The Department of Central Management 
Services and the Comptroller shall adopt joint rules to 
develop procedures for the implementation of this Act.