It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Title 28 of the General Laws entitled "Labor and Labor Relations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

{ADD CHAPTER 49 RHODE ISLAND DISASTER SERVICE VOLUNTEER LEAVE ACT ADD}

{ADD 28-49-1. Short title. -- ADD} {ADD This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island disaster service volunteer leave act". ADD}

{ADD 28-49-2. Definitions. -- ADD} {ADD As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) "State agency" means any state office, or officer, department, board, commission, institution, bureau, or any agency, division, or unit within any office, department, board, or commission or other state authority.

(b) "Disaster" means a fire, flood, hurricane, blizzard, tornado, or other such occurrence where the victims cannot recover without assistance. Applicable disasters would be those designated at level II and above in the American National Red Cross regulations and procedures. ADD}

{ADD 28-49-3. Disaster service voluntary leave. -- ADD} {ADD Any state employee who is a certified disaster volunteer of the American Red Cross may be granted leave from work with pay for not more than ten (10) working days each calendar year to participate in specialized disaster relief service for the American Red Cross, upon the request of the American Red Cross through the state office of emergency management. Leave may be taken upon the request of the American Red Cross and upon the approval of that employees' supervisor, without loss of seniority, pay, vacation leave, compensatory time, personal business leave, sick leave, or earned overtime accumulation. The state agency may compensate an employee granted leave under this section at the employee's regular rate of pay for those regular work hours during which the employee is absent from work.

An employee deemed to be on leave under this section shall not be deemed to be an employee of the state for purposes of workers compensation. Leave under the chapter shall be granted only for service related to a disaster within the state of Rhode Island. Leave under this chapter shall not be granted for the purpose of obtaining training. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.