(a) Subject to the limitations hereinafter established, an officer or an employee who belongs to any employee association which is qualified for payroll deduction for association dues as set forth in § 8-23-204 shall be entitled to use two (2) days of their accrued annual leave pursuant to part 8 of this chapter each year to attend a statewide meeting, conference or convention of the association. The total number of officers or employees entitled to such annual leave shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the total number of employees who are members of the association according to the latest certification of the chief administrative officer made to the commissioner of finance and administration as required by § 8-23-204. Each such association may determine the method of allocating such leave among its members and shall, not more than thirty (30) nor less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date such leave is to be taken, certify to the commissioner of human resources the names of each person and that person's alternates who have been selected by the association as being entitled to such annual leave to attend the statewide meeting, conference or convention.

(b) The first twenty-five percent (25%) of the employees of any work unit shall be granted such absence from work with pay based upon accrued annual leave. More than twenty-five percent (25%) of the employees of any work unit may be granted such absence from work with pay at the discretion of the head of the department or agency.

(c) An officer or an employee who belongs to any employee association which is qualified for payroll deduction for association dues as set forth in § 8-23-204 and who is a member of the official board of such association shall be entitled to receive administrative leave days in order to attend board meetings to conduct business of the association; provided, that such leave shall not exceed twelve (12) days in any calendar year.