EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Section 1. NRS 284.355 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2 284.355 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, all

1-14 termination through no fault of his own or his death while in public

2-1 employment, the employee or his beneficiaries are entitled to payment for

2-2 his unused sick leave [in excess of 30 days, exclusive of] , including,

2-3 without limitation, any unused sick leave accrued but not carried forward .

2-4 [, according to his number of years of public service, except service with a

2-5 political subdivision of the state, as follows:

2-6 (a) For 10 years of service or more but less than 15 years, not more than

2-7 $2,500.

2-8 (b) For 15 years of service or more but less than 20 years, not more than

2-9 $4,000.

2-10 (c) For 20 years of service or more but less than 25 years, not more than

2-11 $6,000.

2-12 (d) For 25 years of service or more, not more than $8,000.] The

2-13 department may by regulation provide for additional sick and disability

2-14 leave for long-term employees and for prorated sick and disability leave

2-15 for part-time employees.

2-16 2. An employee entitled to payment for unused sick leave pursuant to

2-17 subsection 1 may elect to receive the payment in any one or more of the

2-18 following forms:

2-19 (a) A lump-sum payment.

2-20 (b) An advanced payment of the premiums for insurance coverage for

2-21 which he is otherwise eligible pursuant to chapter 287 of NRS. If the

2-22 insurance coverage is terminated and the money advanced for premiums

2-23 pursuant to this subsection exceeds the amount which is payable for

2-24 premiums for the period for which the former employee was actually

2-25 covered, the unused portion of the advanced payment must be paid

2-26 promptly to the former employee or, if he is deceased, to his beneficiary.

2-27 (c) The purchase of additional retirement credit, if he is otherwise

2-28 eligible pursuant to chapter 286 of NRS.

2-29 3. Officers and members of the faculty of the University and

2-30 Community College System of Nevada are entitled to sick and disability

2-31 leave as provided by the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection 2 of

2-32 NRS 284.345.

2-33 4. The department may by regulation provide policies concerning

2-34 employees with mental or emotional disorders which:

2-35 (a) Utilize a liberal approach to the granting of sick leave or leave

2-36 without pay when it is necessary for them to be absent for treatment or

2-37 temporary hospitalization.

2-38 (b) Provide for the retention of their jobs for reasonable periods of

2-39 absence, and where extended absence necessitates separation or retirement,

2-40 provide for their reemployment if at all possible after recovery.

2-41 (c) Protect employee benefits such as retirement, life insurance and

2-42 health benefits.

3-1 5. The director shall establish by regulation a schedule for the accrual

3-2 of sick leave for employees who regularly work more than 40 hours per

3-3 week or 80 hours biweekly. The schedule must provide for the accrual of

3-4 sick leave at the same rate proportionately as employees who work a 40-

3-5 hour week accrue sick leave.

3-6 6. The department may investigate any instance in which it believes

3-7 that an employee has taken sick or disability leave to which he was not

3-8 entitled. If, after notice to the employee and a hearing, the commission

3-9 determines that he has in fact taken sick or disability leave to which he was

3-10 not entitled, the commission may order the forfeiture of all or part of his

3-11 accrued sick leave.

3-12 Sec. 2. This act becomes effective on July 1, 1999.