A. 1. As used in this subsection, "disaster" means disasters designated at level III and above in the American Red Cross Regulations and Procedures.

2. Any state employee in the executive branch of state government who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red Cross or a member of the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol, with the authorization of the chief executive officer of the state agency, may be granted a leave with pay not to exceed fifteen (15) working days in any twelve-month period to participate in specialized disaster relief services within the State of Oklahoma for the American Red Cross or the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol, upon the request of the American Red Cross or the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol and with the approval of the office of the Governor of this state, without the loss of pay, annual leave, sick leave, accrued overtime wages or compensatory time. The agency shall compensate an employee granted leave time under this section at his or her regular rate of pay for those regular work hours during which the employee is absent from work.

3. Notwithstanding the provision of paragraph 2 of this subsection, state employees certified as disaster volunteers shall not exceed five hundred (500) participants at any one time. A list of such employees will be coordinated with the Department of Civil Emergency Management and the office of the Governor of this state. Within sixty (60) days of any request made by the American Red Cross or the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol, a report shall be prepared by the American Red Cross or the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol and submitted to the Governor's office stating the reasons and needs for any request made.

B. Any state officer or employee in the executive branch of state government authorized by the employing agency of the officer or employee to volunteer in a disaster relief activity during a presidentially declared national disaster in Oklahoma after May 1, 1999, for a period of not more than six (6) months after the date of the presidentially declared national disaster, shall not have to use accrued leave or need to make up any time due to the performance of their volunteer activities.

C. Private employers are encouraged to allow their employees to take leave in order to participate in volunteer disaster service programs.

D. School administrators are encouraged to allow students, sixteen (16) years of age or older to be out of school to participate in volunteer disaster service programs.

Added by Laws 1994, c. 136, § 1, emerg. eff. May 2, 1994. Renumbered from Title 74, § 840.7e by Laws 1994, c. 242, § 54. Amended by Laws 1999, c. 172, § 2, emerg. eff. May 21, 1999; Laws 2010, c. 92, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2010.