54-06-27. Emergency service volunteers - Leave

54-06-27. Emergency service volunteers - Leave Upon issuance of an order or proclamation declaring a state of disaster or emergency pursuant to chapter 37-17.1, a search emergency by the air force rescue coordination center or by the department of emergency services, or a declaration of at least a level II disaster by the American red cross in this or any other state, the executive officer in charge of a state agency or the governing body of any political subdivision may grant a leave of absence to any full-time employee of that governmental entity who is an emergency medical service provider, a member of the civil air patrol, a firefighter, police officer, volunteer member of the North Dakota army or air national guard, or emergency radio operator, or who performs other services necessary in an emergency. The leave of absence must be for the purpose of allowing that employee to provide voluntary emergency services. An individual on leave under this section is not deemed to be an employee of the governmental entity for the purposes of workforce safety and insurance. The cumulative leave granted under this section may not exceed twenty working days during any calendar year. The leave may not result in a loss of compensation, seniority, annual leave, sick leave, or accrued overtime for which the employee is otherwise eligible.