Sick leave bank created for Murphy

Summary#

H-5707, An Act establishing a sick leave bank for Monica C. Murphy, an employee of the department of children and families, would create a special law; it does not amend a named existing law. Its stated goal is to establish a sick leave bank for Murphy without delay.

  • The Department of Children and Families must establish the bank.
  • Any department employee may voluntarily contribute one or more sick, personal, or vacation days for Murphy to use.
  • Murphy may use bank days only for absences related to the illness or disability that led to the bank’s creation, as determined by the department.
  • If Murphy leaves the department or asks to dissolve the bank, any remaining time must be transferred to the extended illness leave bank.
  • The bill declares itself an emergency law, intended to take effect without delay if enacted.

What it means for you#

  • Monica C. Murphy: She would have access to days contributed to the bank, subject to the department’s determination that an absence relates to the illness or disability that led to the bank. The bill does not set a number of days.
  • Department of Children and Families employees: They may contribute one or more sick, personal, or vacation days. Contributions are voluntary.
  • Department of Children and Families: It must establish the bank and determine whether absences meet the bill’s use restriction.
  • Other workers and the public: The bill does not directly change other employees’ leave rules, create a general sick-leave benefit, or change taxes or fees.

Money#

No cost information is in the supplied materials. No publicly available information.

  • The department must establish the bank, but the bill gives no estimate for staff time or other administrative costs.
  • The bill does not state how leave days are paid for or account for any payroll cost.

What is unclear#

  • The bill does not set rules for how employees contribute days, how the bank is administered, or whether there is a limit on contributions or use.
  • It gives the department authority to determine whether an absence is related to the qualifying illness or disability, but does not explain the decision process or any review or appeal.
  • The materials do not explain how the extended illness leave bank works or who may use time transferred to it.
  • The supplied status lists “Senate concurred” but also says “Introduced”; the materials do not confirm whether the bill has become law.

Case for#

  • The bill appears intended to give Murphy access to donated leave for absences tied to a specific illness or disability.
  • Allowing contributions from sick, personal, or vacation days gives department employees a voluntary way to support her without requiring them to contribute.
  • Transferring unused time to the extended illness leave bank avoids leaving the remaining time in a bank that has been dissolved.

Case against#

  • The bill does not limit the number of days that may be contributed or used, or explain how the bank’s balance would be tracked.
  • The department decides whether an absence qualifies, but the bill does not set criteria or a review process.
  • It is unclear what happens to transferred days in the extended illness leave bank or who can benefit from them.