1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), employees of the Office of the Secretary of State - election to public office - leave of absence - re-entry of service. Any person holding a position in the Office of the Secretary of State, who is elected to public office, shall, upon request, be granted a leave of absence, without pay, from such position. The leave of absence shall continue so long as he or she remains an elected officer or for a period of 5 years, whichever is shorter.

   If such person files a written request with the Director of Personnel to re-enter active service with the Office of the Secretary of State within the 30 day period following the termination of his or her leave of absence he or she may be reinstated to his or her former position or a position of comparable duties, responsibilities, and pay. The Office of the Secretary of State shall, by mail, notify an employee on leave of absence under this Section on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly of the leave of absence change.

2. (b) Employees on leave of absence under this Section on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly are subject to the following conditions:

   1. (1) An employee whose leave of absence has not exceeded 5 years shall be subject to the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section.
   2. (2) An employee whose leave of absence has exceeded 5 years shall not be barred from re-entering active service by the 5 year limit under subsection (a) of this Section if the employee files a written request to re-enter active service as required under subsection (a) of this Section within 30 days of the date that the Secretary of State mailed the notice to the employee as required under subsection (a) of this Section. The Secretary of State may reinstate the employee as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

(from Ch. 124, par. 112)

(Source: P.A. 98-175, eff. 8-5-13.)