To: Board of Supervisors of the County of Sonoma, Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Water Agency, Board of Commissioners of the Community Development Commission, and Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
Department or Agency Name(s): Human Resources Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Lynne Durrell, 707-565-6089
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Amendment to Salary Resolution 95-0926 for Catastrophic Leave Donations
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution to amend the Salary Resolution regarding administration of Catastrophic Leave Donations to increase the maximum allowable donation from 680 hours to 960 hours with approval from the County Administrator.
end
Executive Summary:
Salary Resolution Section 2.5, Catastrophic Leave/Decedent Leave is a safety net program that allows employees to donate their own accrued leave to another County employee who has exhausted their own leave and is unable to work due to their own serious medical condition, or the need to care for their spouse, registered domestic partner, or dependent child. Under Catastrophic Leave, an employee may apply to receive up to 340 hours of donated leave, and if needed, may apply for a second round of 340 hours, for a total of 680 hours. The proposed amendment provides for an option to request one final round of donated leave of up to 280 hours (for a total maximum of 960 hours or 24 weeks) in extreme cases when no other benefits are available to the employee. As this is an entitlement leave donation program, there are no fiscal impacts identified for this action.
Discussion:
For more than 30 years, the County has provided a Catastrophic Leave/Decedent Leave benefit to all County employees, under Section 2.5 of the Salary Resolution. The program allows employees to donate their accrued vacation and compensatory time to other County employees who have a serious medical condition, or are caring for a spouse, registered domestic partner, or dependent child with a serious medical condition.
Current benefit: Salary Resolution provides the ability for employees to apply to receive Catastrophic Leave donations from other employees. If approved, an employee may receive up to 340 hours of donated leave. If the employee receives and uses the full 340 hours of donated leave, and their medical leave has extended, they can apply for an additional 340 hours of leave donations. In all, an employee can receive up to 680 hours of donated leave under the program.
Unfortunately, 680 hours does not always cover the need. There have been some circumstances when an employee has exhausted the 680 hours allowed under the program, does not have any other benefits available (e.g. when the need is due to devastating medical issues of a child, spouse or domestic partner) and has an ongoing need for leave due to the severity of the circumstances. This amendment will allow for a third and final round of leave donations with approval from the County Administrator. The amendment also provides better clarity on the maximum benefit allowable. The maximum eligible amount allowed under the program will increase from 680 hours to 960 hours or 24 weeks.
The amendment requires employees to exhaust all other benefits prior to application, including Long and Short Term Disability benefits when available, to be eligible for the third and final allocation of hours.
Prior Board Actions:
May 2006: Salary Resolution 95-0926, Section 2.5, Catastrophic Leave/Decedent’s Benefit, broadened to include use of donated leave for serious illness of spouse, registered domestic partner, or dependent child.
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Catastrophic/Decedent Leave is an entitlement leave donation program. Employees may donate their accrued vacation and compensation leave hours to employees. There is no cost or fiscal impacts to the County.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment A - Resolution
Attachment B - Letter from Segal
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A