The bill amends existing laws related to leave benefits for state employees in Oklahoma, focusing on the accrual and transfer of unused leave. It mandates the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to create a system for transferring unused sick and annual leave for retiring employees, allowing them to utilize this leave for their benefit allowance upon retirement. The bill also revises the accrual rates and accumulation limits for annual and sick leave based on years of service, particularly for public safety employees who may face challenges in using their excess leave. Additionally, it clarifies that temporary employees are not entitled to sick and annual leave but may receive paid holiday leave at the discretion of their appointing authority, and it ensures that volunteer firefighters and reserve police officers do not have to use accrued leave for their duties.

Moreover, the bill introduces amendments to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) and the Teachers Retirement System of Oklahoma (TRS), allowing involuntary furloughs to be credited as service time, with a cap of five years starting from November 1, 2023. It specifies that periods of total disability and certain employment transitions will not disrupt continuous employment, and it details the conversion of unused sick leave into retirement benefits. The bill also facilitates the transfer of service credits between TRS and OPERS under specific conditions, outlines the responsibilities of both systems in these transfers, and requires members who have withdrawn contributions to remit the amount plus interest to validate their transfer election. Overall, the bill aims to enhance leave and retirement benefits for public employees while ensuring clarity and protection of employee rights.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 74-913