Community Service Leave

Overview

Paid leave is provided for up to ten working days per fiscal year to participate in specialized disaster relief services.¹

Eligibility

All full-time and part-time (at least .5FTE/20 hours per week) benefits eligible employees are eligible for Amateur Radio Operator Leave.

This paid leave will be provided when all of the following requirements are met:

• The employee holds a current radio station license issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• The governor approves the employee’s leave
• The employee’s supervisor approves the leave

Process for Requesting Amateur Radio Operator Leave

STEP 1: If the leave request occurs during normally scheduled work hours/days, the employee obtains the necessary request from the governor's office with the dates and times of the leave and presents to manager with sufficient notice before leave begins.  

STEP 2: The employee requests time off with reasonable advance notice through the timekeeping system and follows their Departmental Time Off Procedures. 

STEP 3: The manager approves the time off request as appropriate or communicates reasons for not approving the request (ex: scheduling conflicts or workload.)

Step 4: If the leave is approved, the manager works with employee to ensure appropriate coverage is in place during the employee's absence.

Source:
¹Texas Government Code Section 661.919

Overview

Paid leave for up to ten days per fiscal year to volunteer in an organization that is a member in the Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.¹

Eligibility

All full-time and part-time (at least .5FTE and 20 hours per week) benefits eligible employees are eligible this paid leave if the volunteer activities occurrs during normally scheduled work hours/days. 

This paid leave will be provided when the following requirements are met:

• The employee is a volunteer of an organization that is a member in the Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. 
• The leave is approved by the employee’s supervisor.
• The services in which the employee participates are provided for a state of disaster as declared by the governor.

Process for Taking Leave for the Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

STEP 1: The employee requests time off with reasonable advance notice through the timekeeping system and follows their Departmental Time Off Procedures. 

STEP 2: The manager approves the time off request as appropriate or communicates reasons for not approving the request (ex: scheduling conflicts or workload.) The employee may be asked to provide proof of their membership with an approved organization and proof of the hours served. 

Step 3: If the leave is approved, the manager works with employee to ensure appropriate coverage is in place during the employee's absence.  

Source:
¹Texas Government Code Section 661.9075

Overview

Paid leave provided for up to 10 days per fiscal year to attend training sessions for dog assistance.¹

Eligibility

All full-time and part-time (at least .5FTE/20 hours per week) benefits eligible employees are eligible for Assistance Dog Training Leave, if the training occurs during normally scheduled work hours/days. 

Additionally, eligible employees must have a disability as defined by Texas Human Resources Code, Section 121.002² and need to attend training sessions with an assistance dog.

Process for Requesting Assistance Dog Training Leave

STEP 1: The employee requests time off with reasonable advance notice through the timekeeping system and follows their Departmental Time Off Procedures. 

STEP 2: The manager approves the time off request as appropriate or communicates reasons for not approving the request (ex: scheduling conflicts or workload.)

Step 3: If the leave is approved, the manager works with employee to ensure appropriate coverage is in place during the employee's absence.  

Sources: 
¹Texas Government Code Section 661.910
²Texas Human Resources Code, Section 121.002

Overview

Paid leave is provided for time necessary to permit time off for up to two hours to donate blood, up to four times per fiscal year.¹

Eligibility

All full-time and part-time (at least .5FTE/20 hours per week) benefits eligible employees are eligible for Blood Donation Leave, if the time off occurs during normally scheduled work hours/days. 

Process for Taking Blood Donation Leave

STEP 1: Employee obtains advance manager approval and provides supporting documentation of the donation and dates, if necessary.

STEP 2: The employee requests time off with reasonable advance notice through the timekeeping system and follows their Departmental Time Off Procedures. 

STEP 3: The manager approves the time off request as appropriate or communicates reasons for not approving the request (ex: scheduling conflicts or workload.)

Step 4: If the leave is approved, the manager works with employee to ensure appropriate coverage is in place during the employee's absence.  

Employees may be eligible for up to 8 hours of Donor Appreciation Leave based on their sustained donations. 

Source:
¹Texas Government Code Section 661.917

Overview

Paid leave is granted when you:

• Report for jury duty with a summons,¹
• Testify in a case in which MD Anderson is a party (with or without subpoena), or
• Testify in a case in your capacity as an MD Anderson employee in which MD Anderson is not a party (with subpoena).

Eligibility

All full-time and part-time (at least .5FTE/20 hours per week) benefits eligible employees are eligible for Court Appearance/Jury Duty leave, if the appearance occurs during normally scheduled work hours/days. 

Process for Requesting Court Appearance/Jury Duty Leave

STEP 1: Appearing in the capacity as an MD Anderson employee? Contact Legal Services immediately.
               Appearing for jury duty? There is no need to contact Legal Services. 

STEP 2: Employee submits court document to their manager before court or jury date.

STEP 3: The employee requests time off with reasonable advance notice through the timekeeping system and follows their Departmental Time Off Procedures. 

STEP 4: Manager and employee work to ensure necessary coverage is in place for the employee's absence.

STEP 5: Upon return, manager may require the employee to provide a release from jury duty statement on return to work.

Court Appearance/Jury Duty Rules & Exceptions

Fees and Other Honorariums

1. If the employee is serving as a witness in a judicial proceeding or legislative hearing, and the employee appears in their official capacity (representing MD Anderson), the employee:

• may not receive a witness fee²
• may receive per diem for travel and expenses from either the state (employer) or judicial organization, but not both.³

2. If the employee’s witness testimony (voluntary or subpoenaed) is not in his/her official capacity (representing MD Anderson), the employee:

• may accept standard fees for his/her appearance subject to MD Anderson Conflict of Interest policies:

o    Ethics for State Employee Policy (UTMDACC Institutional Policy # ADM0337)

o    Conflict of Interest And Conflict of Commitment Policy (UTMDACC Institutional Policy # ADM0255)

o    Conflict of Interest for Faculty, Trainees, Faculty Supervisors, Institutional Decision Makers and Investigators of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Policy (UTMDACC Institutional Policy # ACA0001)

• may accept reimbursement for travel expenses if not reimbursed by the state (employer).
• must use their own leave time or leave without pay.

3. Clinical faculty are governed by their PRS agreement with regard to all medical/legal consultation fees.

Full-time employees, excluding classified employees, who serve as consulting or testifying expert witnesses in a suit in which the state is a party must report this information to their manager and Legal Services.

Sources:
¹Texas Government Code Section 659.005(a)
²Texas Government Code Section 659.005(b)
³Texas Government Code Section 659.005(c)

Overview

Paid leave is provided for up to five hours each month to participate in services for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).¹

Eligibility

All full-time and part-time (at least .5FTE/20 hours per week) benefits eligible employees are eligible for CASA Leave, if the applicable work occurs during normally scheduled work hours/days. 

Process for Requesting Court Appointed Special Advocates Leave

STEP 1: Employee provides documentation of his/her CASA volunteer status to supervisor with sufficient notice prior to leave.

STEP 2: The employee requests time off with reasonable advance notice through the timekeeping system and follows their Departmental Time Off Procedures. 

STEP 3: The manager approves the time off request as appropriate or communicates reasons for not approving the request (ex: scheduling conflicts or workload.)

Step 4: If the leave is approved, the manager works with employee to ensure appropriate coverage is in place during the employee's absence.  

Source:
¹Texas Government Code Section 661.921

Overview

Paid leave is provided for reasonable time off to vote in national, state or local elections.¹

Eligibility

All full-time and part-time (at least .5FTE/20 hours per week) benefits eligible employees are eligible for Election Time Off leave, if the time off occurs during normally scheduled work hours/days. 

Process For Taking Election Time Off

STEP 1: The employee requests time off with reasonable advance notice through the timekeeping system and follows their Departmental Time Off Procedures. 

STEP 2: The manager approves the time off request as appropriate or communicates reasons for not approving the request (ex: scheduling conflicts or workload.) 

Step 3: If the leave is approved, the manager works with employee to ensure appropriate coverage is in place during the employee's absence.  Time approved may vary based on commuting needs and poll placements.

STEP 4: Manager ensures necessary coverage is in place to provide ongoing department operations as well as sufficient time for employees to vote.

Election Time Off Rules & Exceptions

Employees are expected to vote before or after normal working hours on an official election day, early voting days or by absentee ballot prior to Election Day. In general, voting hours enable employees to vote before or after work. When it is not possible to vote before or after regular working hours, managers may approve up to two hours of paid election time off to vote.

Managers must ensure necessary coverage is in place to maintain department operations before approving time off.²

Sources:
¹Texas Government Code Section 661.914
²Texas Human Resources Management Statutes Inventory for the 2016 – 2017 Biennium, page 101. Retrieved from http://www.sao.texas.gov/reports/main/16-301.pdf

Overview

Paid leave is provided for time necessary to permit serving as an organ or bone marrow donor, as follows:

• Organ donation: up to 30 working days per fiscal year.¹
• Bone marrow donation: up to five (5) working days per fiscal year.²

Eligibility

All full-time and part-time (at least .5FTE/20 hours per week) benefits eligible employees are eligible for Organ or Bone Marrow Donation Leave.

Process for Taking Organ or Bone Marrow Donation Leave

STEP 1: Employee advises manager of the leave with sufficient time before the leave begins. 

STEP 2: Employee contacts the HR Leave Center at 713-745-3652 (5-FMLA).

Sources:
¹Texas Government Code Section 661.916(b)(2)
²Texas Government Code Section 661.916(b)(1)

Overview

The following paid leave is provided:

• Up to five working days per fiscal year to attend volunteer firefighter or emergency medical services (EMS) training schools conducted by state agencies.¹
• Up to five working days per fiscal biennium (2 year fiscal period) to attend training required for reserve law enforcement officers.^2,3
• Up to ten working days per fiscal year for a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical service volunteer to respond to emergency fire or medical situations.⁴       
• Up to five working days per fiscal year to provide search and rescue operations as a volunteer.⁴

Eligibility

All full-time and part-time (at least .5FTE/20 hours per week) benefits eligible employees are eligible for this leave, if the time off occurs during normally scheduled work hours/days. 

Process for Requesting Leave

STEP 1: Employee obtains necessary supporting documentation of the dates and times of the firefighter, EMS or reserve law enforcement training and presents to manager with sufficient notice before leave begins. When responding to an emergency fire, medical situation or search and rescue operation, the employee must contact their manager within 24 hours of the event.

STEP 1: The employee requests time off with reasonable advance notice through the timekeeping system and follows their Departmental Time Off Procedures. 

STEP 2: The manager approves the time off request as appropriate or communicates reasons for not approving the request (ex: scheduling conflicts or workload.)

Step 3: If the leave is approved, the manager works with employee to ensure appropriate coverage is in place during the employee's absence.  

Sources:
¹ Texas Government Code Section 661.905(b)
² Texas Government Code Section 661.992
³ Texas Occupation Code 1701.001
⁴ Texas Government Code Section 661.905