1. (a) The following conditions shall apply:

   1. (1) Catastrophic leave for a natural disaster shall be leave for an employee who faces financial hardship because the employee has exhausted all of their eligible leave and is unable to work due to the effect of the natural disaster on the employee's principal residence.
   2. (2) The employee resides in one of the counties where a state of emergency exists as declared by the Governor.
   3. (3) All compensable leave types are eligible for transfer. Sick leave cannot be transferred.

2. (b) Eligible leave credits may be donated for catastrophic leave for a natural disaster:

   1. (1) upon the request of an employee;
   2. (2) upon determination by the agency director or designee that the employee in the agency is unable to work due to the effects of the natural disaster on the employee's principal residence; and
   3. (3) the employee has exhausted all eligible leave credits.
3. (c) If the transfer of eligible leave credits is approved by the agency's director or designee, any non-represented employee in that agency may, upon written notice to the personnel office, donate eligible leave credits at a minimum of one hour. Donations thereafter must be in whole hour increments. Donations will be reflected as an hour-for-hour deduction from the leave balance of the donating employee. When transferring eligible leave credits, the agency should assure that only credits that may be needed are transferred. A non-represented employee may donate eligible leave credits to a represented employee. A non-represented employee who is designated managerial as defined in Government Code section 3513(e) or supervisory as defined in Government Code section 3513(g) may not receive donated eligible leave credits from a represented employee except in cases of extreme hardship or other compelling circumstances as approved by the Department. Transfer of eligible leave credits may be interagency in accordance with the policies of the receiving agency.

4. (d) In order to receive donated leave credits, a non-represented employee must provide appropriate verification as determined by the agency. A non-represented employee eligible for this program will have any time that is donated credited to their account in one hour increments. Donated credits will be reflected as an hour-for-hour addition to the vacation or annual leave balance of the receiving employee. Use of donated credits may not exceed six (6) continuous months for any one occurrence; however, if approved by the appointing authority, use of donated credits may be for twelve (12) continuous months.

   The total amount of leave credits donated may not exceed an amount sufficient to ensure the continuance of regular compensation. All such transfers are irrevocable; however, agencies may make exceptions upon request of the donating employee provided the donated leave has not yet been used. A non-represented employee who receives time through this program shall use any leave credits they continues to accrue on a monthly basis prior to receiving time from this program. Unused donations shall be returned to the appropriate donor at the conclusion of the Catastrophic Leave.

At the discretion of the appointing power, excluded employees as defined in section 599. 615(b) of these regulations will be permitted to transfer eligible leave credits to an employee when a natural disaster occurs.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 3539.5, 18502, 19815.4(d) and 19849.13, Government Code. Reference: Section 3539.5, Government Code.

History

1. New section filed by the Department of Personnel Administration with the Secretary of State on 11-3-89; Operative 11-3-89. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Government Code section 11343.8 (Register 89, No. 49).

2. Amendment of section filed 5-29-91; operative 5-29-91. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Government Code section 3539.5 (Register 91, No. 43).

3. Amendment of subsections (c) and (d) filed 8-1-97; operative 8-1-97. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Government Code section 3539.5 (Register 97, No. 31).

4. Change without regulatory effect amending section heading, section and Note filed 10-13-2014 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2014, No. 42).

5. Amendment of section heading, section and Note filed 9-8-2025; operative 9-8-2025 pursuant to Government Code section 3539.5(b). This action was submitted to OAL for filing and printing only and is exempt from OAL review and approval pursuant to Government Code section 3539.5(b) (Register 2025, No. 37).