(a)(1) On and after June 1, 1998, each full-time employee in a permanent position in the state service, who is not represented by a collective bargaining representative, who worked at least one full calendar year, shall be granted one week of additional annual vacation, with pay, based upon such employee's normal work schedule for each calendar year that such employee is a Big Brother or Big Sister in the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program. The first year period shall be measured annually from September, 1998. In no event shall an individual receive more than one week of vacation for the period from September, 1998, through December 31, 1999. (2) On and after January 1, 1999, each full-time employee in a permanent position in the state service, who is not represented by a collective bargaining representative, or who is in a participating collective bargaining unit, who worked at least one full year measured annually from the first full month of participation by such employee in the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program, shall be granted one week of additional annual vacation, with pay, based upon such employee's normal work schedule for each full year that such employee is a Big Brother or Big Sister in the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program. In no event shall an employee receive more than one week of vacation for any one full year of participation in the program. (3) The Big Brothers and Big Sisters program shall provide a list to the state of the employees who are certified as eligible under this program within one month of full acceptance into the program and shall certify to the state the names of the employees who have completed a year of full participation in the program as a Big Brother or Big Sister. If such an employee does not participate for the full year or does not satisfy the expected regular time commitments, no additional vacation time shall be granted. The decision to grant the additional vacation time shall be subject to approval by the Office of Policy and Management and shall not be subject to appeal under section 5-202 or under any collectively bargained agreement. The regulations regarding the utilization of vacation shall govern the utilization of the additional time earned hereunder.

(b) Big Brothers and Big Sisters shall be totally responsible for all elements of their program. No activities performed by state employees with Big Brothers and Big Sisters shall be on state time and such activities shall be outside of the scope of their employment.

(c) Any collective bargaining representative of state employees may agree to have their members participate in the program. Such participation may commence upon execution of an agreement between state of Connecticut, acting through the Office of Labor Relations, and the collective bargaining representative indicating the representative's acceptance of the terms and conditions of this section. No variation of the terms and conditions may be granted without legislative approval pursuant to section 5-278. Such matter is not subject to the grievance and arbitration procedure or interest arbitration.

(P.A. 98-257, S. 1, 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-1, S. 33, 51; P.A. 00-112, S. 1, 5.)

History: P.A. 98-257 effective June 11, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-1 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provision that the year period shall be measured annually from September first of each year and substitute provisions that the first year period shall be measured annually from September 1998, that effective January 1, 1999, the year period shall be measured annually from January first of each year and that in no event shall an individual receive more than one week of vacation for the period from September, 1998, through December 31, 1999, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-112 amended Subsec. (a) to designate existing language as Subdivs. (1) and (3), delete provision re measurement of period from January first of each year, add Subdiv. (2) re participation in program and make technical changes, effective May 26, 2000.