State public employees: sick leave: veterans with service-related disabilities.

Existing law, the California Wounded Warriors Transitional Leave Act, grants a state officer or employee who is a veteran hired on or after January 1, 2016, with a service-connected disability rated at 30% or more by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, an additional credit for sick leave with pay of up to 96 hours for the purpose of undergoing medical treatment for his or her military service-related disability. Existing law requires that the sick leave be credited to a qualifying officer or employee on the first day of employment and remain available for use for the following 12 months of employment. This bill would extend that benefit to a state officer or employee employed on or after January 1, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 30% or more by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill would require credit for leave of absence under this provision to be credited to a state officer or employee on the effective date of the officer's or employee's disability rating decision from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or on the first day the officer or employee begins, or returns to, employment after active duty, whichever is later, except under specified circumstances when provisions authorizing alternative leave arrangements would be applicable. The bill would state that sick leave credited under these provisions is ineligible for conversion to service credit, as specified.