(a) An officer or employee may take personal leave at any time business permits upon permission by the head of the department or agency for which the officer or employee works.

(b) An officer or employee may take personal leave for medical reasons, regardless of whether business permits, upon permission by the head of the department or agency for which the officer or employee works. A department or agency head shall grant personal leave for medical reasons if the department or agency head is satisfied that the officer or employee is absent for medical reasons. The taking of personal leave for medical reasons shall be reduced by the amount of wage continuation payments made under AS 23.30 (Alaska Workers' Compensation Act). The following constitute “medical reasons” and are subject to the conditions noted:

(1) medical disability of an officer or employee is a medical reason for taking personal leave. A department or agency head may require a doctor's certificate showing the disability if the absence exceeds three consecutive working days;

(2) medical disability of a member of an officer's or employee's immediate family is a medical reason for taking personal leave if the disability is such that the attendance of the officer or employee is required. A department or agency head may require a doctor's certificate showing the disability if the absence exceeds three consecutive working days;

(3) a medical condition of an officer or employee that makes presence at work a danger to the health of fellow employees is a medical reason for taking personal leave. A department or agency head may require a doctor's certificate showing the condition if the absence exceeds three consecutive working days;

(4) pregnancy and childbirth or the placement of a child, other than the employee's stepchild, with the employee for adoption is a medical reason for an officer or employee to take personal leave;

(5) death of a member of an officer's or employee's immediate family is a medical reason for taking personal leave. No more than five days of personal leave may be taken for this purpose.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this section, each officer or employee shall, during each 12-month period, take at least 10 days of personal leave. If the officer or employee does not take at least 10 days of personal leave during a 12-month period, the difference between 10 days and the amount of personal leave taken shall be canceled without pay unless the department or agency head certifies in writing that the officer or employee was denied the opportunity to take 10 days of personal leave during the 12-month period.