The bill amends section 54-06-14 of the North Dakota Century Code to establish new provisions regarding annual and sick leave for state employees. It mandates that all permanent state employees, who are not under a written contract, must receive annual and sick leave according to specified terms. Notably, upon hiring, new employees will receive forty hours of "new hire leave" to be used within their first year, which will not carry over or be paid out upon separation. The bill also outlines that annual leave can range from one to two working days per month based on tenure, with the possibility of exceeding this range for hard-to-fill positions. Sick leave is set at a minimum of one working day per month to a maximum of one and a half days, also based on tenure.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that annual and sick leave must be compensated at full pay, and employees with at least ten years of continuous state employment are entitled to a lump sum payment for unused sick leave. The agency employing the individual is responsible for making this payment. The bill requires each state agency to adopt rules governing the granting of leave, which must be filed with the office of management and budget. The effective date for this act is set for May 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 54-06-14
Adopted by the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee: 54-06-14
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 54-06-14
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Motschenbacher: 54-06-14
Enrollment: 54-06-14