HF 2177 (LSB 6605HH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2177

BY  SITZMANN

A BILL FOR

An Act providing paid leave to state employees for volunteer activities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 70A.1, Code 2026, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  10.  a.  An employee of the state may be granted leave with pay from work for not more than eight hours in a calendar year to participate in volunteer activities without loss of seniority, pay, vacation time, personal days, sick leave, insurance and health coverage benefits, or earned overtime accumulation. An employee granted leave under this subsection shall be compensated at the employee’s regular rate of pay for those regular work hours during which the employee is absent from work.
   b.  An employee granted leave under this subsection shall not be deemed to be an employee of the state for purposes of workers’ compensation during the period of leave. An employee granted leave under this subsection shall not be deemed to be an employee of the state for purposes of chapter 669 during the period of leave.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill allows a state employee to be granted paid time off for not more than eight hours each calendar year for participating in volunteer activities. The employee shall not lose any pay or benefits as a result of the paid leave and shall not be considered a state employee for purposes of workers’ compensation or the state tort claims Act during the period of leave.