Minnesota Session Laws - 2001, Regular Session

                             CHAPTER 40-S.F.No. 741 
                  An act relating to Hennepin county; authorizing 
                  disaster volunteer leave; proposing coding for new law 
                  in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 383B. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  [383B.389] [DISASTER VOLUNTEER LEAVE.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [LEAVE AUTHORIZED.] A county employee who 
        is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red 
        Cross or emergency disaster services volunteer of the Salvation 
        Army or similar volunteer of a disaster services organization 
        approved by the Hennepin county board may be granted leave from 
        work with 50 percent of pay, not to exceed 15 working days in 
        each year, to participate in specialized disaster relief 
        services for the American Red Cross or another approved disaster 
        services organization.  The employee must be released from work 
        for this function upon the request of the approved disaster 
        services organization for the services of that employee, and 
        upon the approval of that employee's appointing authority.  The 
        appointing authority must compensate the employee granted leave 
        under this section at 50 percent of the employee's regular rate 
        of pay for those regular hours during which the employee is 
        absent from work.  This leave, if granted by the appointing 
        authority, does not affect the employee's vacation leave, 
        pension, compensatory time, personal vacation days, sick leave, 
        earned overtime accumulation, or cause a loss of seniority. 
           Subd. 2.  [LIABILITY.] The county is not liable for 
        workers' compensation claims arising from accident or injury 
        while a county employee is on an approved assignment with an 
        approved disaster services organization.  Duties performed while 
        on disaster leave are not considered to be a work assignment by 
        the county.  The employee is granted leave based on the need for 
        expertise in the employee's certified area.  Job functions, 
        although similar or related to the employee's county job 
        functions, are performed on behalf of and for the benefit of the 
        disaster services organization. 
           Sec. 2.  [LOCAL APPROVAL.] 
           Section 1 is effective the day after the Hennepin county 
        board complies with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, 
        subdivision 3. 
           Presented to the governor April 20, 2001 
           Signed by the governor April 24, 2001, 10:02 a.m.