This bill amends Section 70A.1 of the Code 2026 to provide state employees with the opportunity to take paid leave for volunteer activities. Specifically, it allows employees to be granted up to eight hours of paid leave per calendar year to participate in such activities without losing any seniority, pay, vacation time, personal days, sick leave, insurance and health coverage benefits, or earned overtime accumulation. During this leave, employees will be compensated at their regular rate of pay for the hours they are absent from work.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that employees on leave for volunteer activities will not be considered state employees for the purposes of workers' compensation or the state tort claims Act during their time off. This provision ensures that while employees are engaging in volunteer work, they are not covered under these legal frameworks, thereby delineating their status during the leave period.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 70A.1