(a) Ordinary sick leave.

1. (1) Sick leave for vendors will accrue at the rate of one-half (1/2) day on the fifteenth day of the month and one-half (1/2) day on the last day of the month from the first date the vendor entered, reenters, or is eligible to accrue leave.
2. (2) Sick leave can be taken in full or half days.
3. (3) A maximum of sixty (60) days of sick leave may be accumulated.

4. (4)

   1. (A) If a vendor is absent from a facility due to illness for more than five (5) consecutive working days, a statement from his or her physician must be sent to the Vending Facility Program office before the vendor can return to work.
   2. (B) Otherwise, the vendor will not be compensated for the number of days he or she is absent.

(b) Extended sick leave.

1. (1) In cases where a vendor becomes unable, due to illness, to perform the necessary duties required to operate the facility for an extended period of time, the following criteria will apply.

2. (2)

   1. (A) The vendor will receive the net profits from the facility and retain assignment to it for not more than ninety (90) working days after sick leave is depleted.
   2. (B) A working day is defined as a day in which the location is normally open for business by contractual agreement.

3. (3)

   1. (A) While on extended sick leave, vendors will not earn sick or vacation leave.
   2. (B) When a vendor returns to work from extended sick leave, they will resume their leave benefits.
4. (4) As soon as possible but at least by the thirtieth calendar day after all leave is depleted, the vendor will provide the specialist with a statement from his or her physician outlining his or her condition and possible date that he or she might be expected to be capable of fully operating the facility.
5. (5) The vendor will also provide the specialist with a statement as to his or her desire to retain the facility and some indication as to when he or she will once again be able to assume his or her duties of operating the facility.
6. (6) The vendor must provide the specialist with a physician's statement that the vendor is able to perform the duties required to manage the facility before he or she resumes the responsibility for its operation.

7. (7) When it becomes necessary to determine whether or not the facility should be reassigned, the decision will be made by a committee consisting of:

   1. (A) The Vending Facility Program Administrator;
   2. (B) The specialist who supervises the facility; and
   3. (C) A Transfer and Promotion Committee of the State Committee of Blind Vendors.

(c) Immediate family — Illness.

1. (1) Sick leave may be taken when needed because of illness in the vendor's immediate family.

2. (2) Immediate family is defined as:

   1. (A) Parents;
   2. (B) Siblings;
   3. (C) Spouse;
   4. (D) Children;
   5. (E) In-laws;
   6. (F) Grandparents; and
   7. (G) Stepchildren.

(e) Funeral.

1. (1)

   1. (A) Funeral leave, not to exceed five (5) days per calendar year, may be charged to sick leave for funerals of the vendor's immediate family.
   2. (B) Immediate family is defined in subsection (c) of this section.
2. (2) Funeral leave of one (1) day may be taken because of deaths of other relatives and may be charged to sick leave.