May schools establish sick leave banks or pools whereby certified personnel may contribute certain numbers of days of sick leave allowance to the bank and members of the bank may withdraw sick leave from the bank when they suffer a catastrophic illness and have used up all of their accumulated sick

STATE OF ARKANSAS - OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JUSTICE BUILDING, LITTLE ROCK 72201 STEVE CLARK , (502) 371-2007 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 86-26 ; February 4, 1986 The Honorable Joe Yates State Senator 711 S.W. 2nd Bentonville, AR 72712 Dear Senator Yates: . This is in response to your opinion request which you posed the following inquiry: May schools establish sick leave banks or pools whereby certified personnel may contribute certain numbers of days of sick leave allowance to the bank and members of the bank may withdraw sick leave From _ the bank when they suffer a catastrophic illness and. have used up all their accumulated individual sick - leave? ; It -is the opinion of this office the answer to your inquiry is yes. ; The Arkansas Legislature has addressed the subject of - teacher sick leave through the Teacher's Minimum Sick Leave ‘law found at Ark.’ Stat. Ann. §§80-1249 . through 80-1255.5. . (Repl.. 1980): That policy establishes the minimum number of > days . of sick leave a teacher may earn and the policies - and regulations for administering such ‘leave, . an “Moreover, aS a part: of that act the ‘Legislature adopted a Ark, ‘Stat. -Ann. | §80-1255.6 (Repl. 1980) which states: The number of. days of, sick leave. provided by: this act are minimum only, and nothing in this Act shall - prohibit any school district from providing. more |. days’ of sick leave or have a more liberal policy for administration of sick leave. : Therefore, it is the opinion ‘of this office the . Legislature intended. to grant discretion to a local district | in establishing.sick leave, once the minimum is attained, -and the procedure to administrate such. Honorable Joe Yates February 4, 1986 Page 2 If this office can please call upon us. JSCi:ldc a provide you any further assistance Attorn y General