School employees: leaves of absence: classified employees elected to Legislature.

(1) Existing law requires that every person employed by a school district as a permanent employee in a position requiring certification qualifications who is elected to the Legislature be granted a leave of absence from his or her duties as an employee of the district by the governing board of the district, as specified. This bill would provide the same leave rights to a permanent employee in classified service who is elected to the Legislature and serves on or after December 6, 2010. Existing law requires that the governing board of a community college district grant to any classified employee, upon request, a leave of absence without loss of compensation for the purpose of enabling the employee to serve as an elected officer of any local community college district public employee organization, or of any statewide or national public employee organization with which the local organization is affiliated, as specified. This bill would require that every person who is employed by a community college district as a permanent employee in classified service who is elected to the Legislature, and who serves in the Legislature on or after December 6, 2010, be granted a leave of absence from his or her duties as an employee of the district by the governing board of the district, as specified. The bill would specify that permanent classified school district or community college employees who hold the office of Member of the Assembly or State Senator on or after December 6, 2010, and prior to January 1, 2011, are entitled to leaves of absence from their duties as district employees retroactive to December 6, 2010. Because the bill would impose new duties on school districts and community college districts, it would constitute a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.