CHAPTER 63 - LEAVE

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§ 6301 Definitions

For the purpose of this subchapter— “United States”, when used in a geographical sense means the several States and the District of Columbia; and “employee” means— an employee as defined by section 2105 of this title ; and an individual first employed by the government of the District of Columbia before October 1, 1987 ; but does not include— a teacher or librarian of the public schools of the District of Columbia; a part-time employee who does not have an established regular tour of duty during the administrative workweek; a temporary employee engaged in construction work at an hourly rate; an employee of the Panama Canal Commission when employed on the Isthmus of Panama; an employee of the Veterans Health Administration who is covered by a leave system established under section 7421 of title 38 ; an employee of either House of Congress or of the two Houses; an employee of a corporation supervised by the Farm Credit Administration if private interests elect or appoint a member of the board of directors; an alien employee who occupies a position outside the United States, except as provided by section 6310 of this title ; a “teacher” or an individual holding a “teaching position” as defined by section 901 of title 20 ; an officer in the executive branch or in the government of the District of Columbia who is appointed by the President and whose rate of basic pay exceeds the highest rate payable under section 5332 of this title ; an officer in the executive branch or in the government of the District of Columbia who is designated by the President, except a postmaster, United States attorney, or United States marshal; a chief of mission (as defined in section 102(a)(3) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980); or an officer in the legislative or judicial branch who is appointed by the President. Notwithstanding clauses (x)–(xii) of paragraph (2), the term “employee” includes any member of the Senior Foreign Service or any Foreign Service officer (other than a member or officer serving as chief of mission or in a position which requires appointment by and with the advice and consent of the Senate) and any member of the Foreign Service commissioned as a diplomatic or consular officer, or both, under section 312 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980. ( Pub. L. 89–554 , Sept. 6, 1966 , 80 Stat. 517 ; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(c)(17) , Aug. 12, 1970 , 84 Stat. 776 ; Pub. L. 95–519, § 1 , Oct. 25, 1978 , 92 Stat. 1819 ; Pub. L. 96–70, title III, § 3302(e)(2) , Sept. 27, 1979 , 93 Stat. 498 ; Pub. L. 96–465, title II , §§ 2312(a), 2314(f)(1), Oct. 17, 1980 , 94 Stat. 2166 , 2168; Pub. L. 99–335, title II, § 207(c)(1) , formerly § 207(c), June 6, 1986 , 100 Stat. 595 , renumbered § 207(c)(1), Pub. L. 99–556, title II, § 201(1) , Oct. 27, 1986 , 100 Stat. 3135 ; Pub. L. 102–54, § 13(b)(2) , June 13, 1991 , 105 Stat. 274 ; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XI, § 1103(f)(1) , Jan. 1, 2021 , 134 Stat. 3889 .)

§ 6302 General provisions

(a) The days of leave provided by this subchapter are days on which an employee would otherwise work and receive pay and are exclusive of holidays and nonworkdays established by Federal statute, Executive order, or administrative order.

(b) For the purpose of this subchapter an employee is deemed employed for a full biweekly pay period if he is employed during the days within that period, exclusive of holidays and nonworkdays established by Federal statute, Executive order, or administrative order, which fall within his basic administrative workweek.

(c) A part-time employee, unless otherwise excepted, is entitled to the benefits provided by subsection (d) of this section and sections 6303, 6304(a), (b), 6305(a), 6307, and 6310 of this title on a pro rata basis.

(d) The annual leave provided by this subchapter, including annual leave that will accrue to an employee during the year, may be granted at any time during the year as the head of the agency concerned may prescribe.

(e) If an officer excepted from this subchapter by section 6301(2)(x)–(xiii) of this title, without a break in service, again becomes subject to this subchapter on completion of his service as an excepted officer, the unused annual and sick leave standing to his credit when he was excepted from this subchapter is deemed to have remained to his credit.

(f) An employee who uses excess annual leave credited because of administrative error may elect to refund the amount received for the days of excess leave by lump-sum or installment payments or to have the excess leave carried forward as a charge against later-accruing annual leave, unless repayment is waived under section 5584 of this title .

(g) An employee who is being involuntarily separated from an agency due to a reduction in force or transfer of function under subchapter I of chapter 35 or section 3595 may elect to use annual leave to the employee’s credit to remain on the agency’s rolls after the date the employee would otherwise have been separated if, and only to the extent that, such additional time in a pay status will enable the employee to qualify for an immediate annuity under section 8336, 8412, 8414, or to qualify to carry health benefits coverage into retirement under section 8905(b).

§ 6303 Annual leave; accrual

(a) An employee is entitled to annual leave with pay which accrues as follows— one-half day for each full biweekly pay period for an employee with less than 3 years of service; three-fourths day for each full biweekly pay period, except that the accrual for the last full biweekly pay period in the year is one and one-fourth days, for an employee with 3 but less than 15 years of service; and one day for each full biweekly pay period for an employee with 15 or more years of service. In determining years of service, an employee is entitled to credit for all service of a type that would be creditable under section 8332, regardless of whether or not the employee is covered by subchapter III of chapter 83, and for all service which is creditable by virtue of subsection (e). However, an employee who is a retired member of a uniformed service as defined by section 3501 of this title is entitled to credit for active military service only if— his retirement was based on disability— resulting from injury or disease received in line of duty as a direct result of armed conflict; or caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in line of duty during a period of war as defined by sections 101 and 1101 of title 38; that service was performed in the armed forces during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized; or on November 30, 1964 , he was employed in a position to which this subchapter applies and thereafter he continued to be so employed without a break in service of more than 30 days. The determination of years of service may be made on the basis of an affidavit of the employee. Leave provided by this subchapter accrues to an employee who is not paid on the basis of biweekly pay periods on the same basis as it would accrue if the employee were paid on the basis of biweekly pay periods.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, an employee whose current employment is limited to less than 90 days is entitled to annual leave under this subchapter only after being currently employed for a continuous period of 90 days under successive appointments without a break in service. After completing the 90-day period, the employee is entitled to be credited with the leave that would have accrued to him under subsection (a) of this section except for this subsection.

(c) A change in the rate of accrual of annual leave by an employee under this section takes effect at the beginning of the pay period after the pay period, or corresponding period for an employee who is not paid on the basis of biweekly pay periods, in which the employee completed the prescribed period of service.

(d) Leave granted under this subchapter is exclusive of time actually and necessarily occupied in going to or from a post of duty and time necessarily occupied awaiting transportation, in the case of an employee— to whom section 6304(b) of this title applies; whose post of duty is outside the United States; and who returns on leave to the United States, or to his place of residence, which is outside the area of employment, in its territories or possessions including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This subsection does not apply to more than one period of leave in a prescribed tour of duty at a post outside the United States.

(e) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations under which, for purposes of determining years of service under subsection (a), credit shall, in the case of a newly appointed employee, be given for any prior service of such employee that would not otherwise be creditable for such purposes, if— such service— was performed in a position the duties of which directly relate to the duties of the position to which such employee is so appointed; and meets such other requirements as the Office may prescribe; and in the judgment of the head of the appointing agency, the application of this subsection is necessary in order to achieve an important agency mission or performance goal. Service described in paragraph (1)— shall be creditable, for the purposes described in paragraph (1), as of the effective date of the employee’s appointment; and shall not thereafter cease to be so creditable, unless the employee fails to complete a full year of continuous service with the agency. An employee shall not be eligible for the application of paragraph (1) on the basis of any appointment if, within 90 days before the effective date of such appointment, such employee has held any position in the civil service.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the rate of accrual of annual leave under subsection (a) shall be 1 day for each full biweekly pay period in the case of any employee who holds a position which is subject to— section 5376 or 5383; or a pay system equivalent to either of the foregoing, as determined by the Office of Personnel Management.

§ 6304 Annual leave; accumulation

(a) Except as provided by subsections (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section, annual leave provided by section 6303 of this title , which is not used by an employee, accumulates for use in succeeding years until it totals not more than 30 days at the beginning of the first full biweekly pay period, or corresponding period for an employee who is not paid on the basis of biweekly pay periods, occurring in a year.

(b) Annual leave not used by an employee of the Government of the United States in one of the following classes of employees stationed outside the United States accumulates for use in succeeding years until it totals not more than 45 days at the beginning of the first full biweekly pay period, or corresponding period for an employee who is not paid on the basis of biweekly pay periods, occurring in a year: Individuals directly recruited or transferred by the Government of the United States from the United States or its territories or possessions including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for employment outside the area of recruitment or from which transferred. Individuals employed locally but— who were originally recruited from the United States or its territories or possessions including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico but outside the area of employment; who have been in substantially continuous employment by other agencies of the United States, United States firms, interests, or organizations, international organizations in which the United States participates, or foreign governments; and whose conditions of employment provide for their return transportation to the United States or its territories or possessions including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; or who were at the time of employment temporarily absent, for the purpose of travel or formal study, from the United States, or from their respective places of residence in its territories or possessions including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and who, during the temporary absence, have maintained residence in the United States or its territories or possessions including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico but outside the area of employment. Individuals who are not normally residents of the area concerned and who are discharged from service in the armed forces to accept employment with an agency of the Government of the United States.

(c) Annual leave in excess of the amount allowable— under subsection (a) or (b) of this section which was accumulated under earlier statute; or under subsection (a) of this section which was accumulated under subsection (b) of this section by an employee who becomes subject to subsection (a) of this section; remains to the credit of the employee until used. The excess annual leave is reduced at the beginning of the first full biweekly pay period, or corresponding period for an employee who is not paid on the basis of biweekly pay periods, occurring in a year, by the amount of annual leave the employee used during the preceding year in excess of the amount which accrued during that year, until the employee’s accumulated leave does not exceed the amount allowed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, as appropriate.

(d) Annual leave which is lost by operation of this section because of— administrative error when the error causes a loss of annual leave otherwise accruable after June 30, 1960 ; exigencies of the public business when the annual leave was scheduled in advance; or sickness of the employee when the annual leave was scheduled in advance; shall be restored to the employee. Annual leave restored under paragraph (1) of this subsection, or under clause (2) of section 5562(a) of this title , which is in excess of the maximum leave accumulation permitted by law shall be credited to a separate leave account for the employee and shall be available for use by the employee within the time limits prescribed by regulations of the Office of Personnel Management. Leave credited under this paragraph but unused and still available to the employee under the regulations prescribed by the Office shall be included in the lump-sum payment under section 5551 or 5552(1) of this title but may not be retained to the credit of the employee under section 5552(2) of this title . For the purpose of this subsection, the closure of, and any realignment with respect to, an installation of the Department of Defense pursuant to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A of title XXIX of Public Law 101–510 ; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note) during any period, the closure of an installation of the Department of Defense in the Republic of Panama in accordance with the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977, and the closure of any other installation of the Department of Defense, during the period beginning on October 1, 1992 , and ending on December 31, 1997 , shall be deemed to create an exigency of the public business and any leave that is lost by an employee of such installation by operation of this section (regardless of whether such leave was scheduled) shall be restored to the employee and shall be credited and available in accordance with paragraph (2). For the purpose of subparagraph (A), the term “realignment” means a base realignment (as defined in subsection (e)(3) of section 2687 of title 10 ) that meets the requirements of subsection (a)(2) of such section. For the purpose of this subsection, service of a Department of Defense emergency essential employee in a combat zone is an exigency of the public business for that employee. Any leave that, by reason of such service, is lost by the employee by operation of this section (regardless of whether such leave was scheduled) shall be restored to the employee and shall be credited and available in accordance with paragraph (2). As used in subparagraph (A)— the term “Department of Defense emergency essential employee” means an employee of the Department of Defense who is designated under section 1580 of title 10 as an emergency essential employee; and the term “combat zone” has the meaning given such term in section 112(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(e) Annual leave otherwise accruable after June 30, 1960 , which is lost by operation of this section because of administrative error and which is not credited under subsection (d)(2) of this section because the employee is separated before the error is discovered, is subject to credit and liquidation by lump-sum payment only if a claim therefor is filed within 3 years immediately following the date of discovery of the error. Payment shall be made by the agency of employment when the lump-sum payment provisions of section 5551 of this title last became applicable to the employee at the rate of basic pay in effect on the date the lump-sum provisions became applicable.

(f) This subsection applies with respect to annual leave accrued by an individual while serving in— a position in the Senior Executive Service; a position in the Senior Foreign Service; a position in the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service; a position in the Senior Cryptologic Executive Service; a position in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service; a position to which section 5376 applies; a position designated under section 1607(a) of title 10 as an Intelligence Senior Level position; or 1 a position in the Library of Congress the compensation for which is set at a rate equal to the annual rate of basic pay payable for positions at level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314. 1 a position in the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division at the rank of Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, or Chief. For purposes of applying any limitation on accumulation under this section with respect to any annual leave described in paragraph (1)— “30 days” in subsection (a) shall be deemed to read “90 days”; and “45 days” in subsection (b) shall be deemed to read “90 days”.

§ 6305 Home leave; leave for Chiefs of Missions; leave for crews of vessels

(a) After 24 months of continuous service outside the United States (or after a shorter period of such service if the employee’s assignment is terminated for the convenience of the Government), an employee may be granted leave of absence, under regulations of the President, at a rate not to exceed 1 week for each 4 months of that service without regard to other leave provided by this subchapter. Leave so granted— is for use in the United States, or if the employee’s place of residence is outside the area of employment, in its territories or possessions including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; accumulates for future use without regard to the limitation in section 6304(b) of this title ; and may not be made the basis for terminal leave or for a lump-sum payment.

(b) The President may authorize leave of absence to a chief of mission excepted from this subchapter by section 6301(2)(xii) of this title for use in the United States and its territories or possessions. Leave so authorized does not constitute a leave system and may not be made the basis for a lump-sum payment.

(c) An officer, crewmember, or other employee serving aboard an oceangoing vessel on an extended voyage may be granted leave of absence, under regulations of the Office of Personnel Management, at a rate not to exceed 2 days for each 30 calendar days of that service without regard to other leave provided by this subchapter. Leave so granted— accumulates for future use without regard to the limitation in section 6304(b) of this title ; may not be made the basis for a lump-sum payment, except that civil service mariners of the Military Sealift Command on temporary promotion aboard ship may be paid the difference between their temporary and permanent rates of pay for leave accrued under this section and section 6303 and not otherwise used during the temporary promotion upon the expiration or termination of the temporary promotion; and may not be made the basis for terminal leave except under such special or emergency circumstances as may be prescribed under the regulations of the Office.

(d) With respect to an officer, crewmember, or other employee of the Department of Defense serving aboard an oceangoing vessel on an extended voyage, the first sentence in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of this section shall be applied by substituting “7 calendar days” for “30 calendar days”.

§ 6306 Annual leave; refund of lump-sum payment; recredit of annual leave

(a) When an individual who received a lump-sum payment for leave under section 5551 of this title is reemployed before the end of the period covered by the lump-sum payment in or under the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia, except in a position excepted from this subchapter by section 6301(2)(ii), (iii), (vi), or (vii) of this title, he shall refund to the employing agency an amount equal to the pay covering the period between the date of reemployment and the expiration of the lump-sum period.

(b) An amount refunded under subsection (a) of this section shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the employing agency. When an individual is reemployed under the same leave system, an amount of leave equal to the leave represented by the refund shall be recredited to him in the employing agency. When an individual is reemployed under a different leave system, an amount of leave equal to the leave represented by the refund shall be recredited to him in the employing agency on an adjusted basis under regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management. When an individual is reemployed in a position excepted from this subchapter by section 6301(2)(x)–(xiii) of this title, an amount of leave equal to the leave represented by the refund is deemed, on separation from the service, death, or transfer to another position in the service, to have remained to his credit.

§ 6307 Sick leave; accrual and accumulation

(a) An employee is entitled to sick leave with pay which accrues on the basis of one-half day for each full biweekly pay period, except that sick leave with pay accrues to a member of the Firefighting Division of the Fire Department of the District of Columbia on the basis of two-fifths of a day for each full biweekly pay period.

(b) Sick leave provided by this section, which is not used by an employee, accumulates for use in succeeding years.

(c) Sick leave provided by this section may be used for purposes relating to the adoption of a child.

(d) When required by the exigencies of the situation, a maximum of 30 days sick leave with pay may be advanced for serious disability or ailment, or for purposes relating to the adoption of a child, except that a maximum of 24 days sick leave with pay may be advanced to a member of the Firefighting Division of the Fire Department of the District of Columbia.

(d) (1) 1 For the purpose of this subsection, the term “family member” shall have such meaning as the Office of Personnel Management shall by regulation prescribe, except that such term shall include any individual who meets the definition given that term, for purposes of the leave transfer program under subchapter III, under regulations prescribed by the Office (as in effect on January 1, 1993 ). Subject to paragraph (3) and in addition to any other allowable purpose, sick leave may be used by an employee— to give care or otherwise attend to a family member having an illness, injury, or other condition which, if an employee had such condition, would justify the use of sick leave by such an employee; or for purposes relating to the death of a family member, including to make arrangements for or attend the funeral of such family member. Sick leave may be used by an employee for the purposes provided under paragraph (2) only to the extent the amount used for such purposes does not exceed— 40 hours in any year, plus up to an additional 64 hours in any year, but only to the extent the use of such additional hours does not cause the amount of sick leave to the employee’s credit to fall below 80 hours. In the case of a part-time employee or an employee on an uncommon tour of duty, the Office of Personnel Management shall establish limitations that are proportional to those prescribed under subparagraph (A). This subsection shall be effective during the 3-year period that begins upon the expiration of the 2-month period that begins on the date of the enactment of this subsection. Not later than 6 months before the date on which this subsection is scheduled to cease to be effective, the Office shall submit a report to Congress in which it shall evaluate the operation of this subsection and make recommendations as to whether or not this subsection should be continued beyond such date.

§ 6308 Transfers between positions under different leave systems

(a) The annual and sick leave to the credit of an employee who transfers between positions under different leave systems without a break in service shall be transferred to his credit in the employing agency on an adjusted basis under regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, unless the individual is excepted from this subchapter by section 6301(2)(ii), (iii), (vi), or (vii) of this title. However, when a former member receiving a retirement annuity under sections 521–535 of title 4, District of Columbia Code, is reemployed in a position to which this subchapter applies, his sick leave balance may not be recredited to his account on the later reemployment.

(b) The annual leave, sick leave, and home leave to the credit of a nonappropriated fund employee of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard described in section 2105(c) who moves without a break in service of more than 3 days to a position in the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, respectively, that is subject to this subchapter shall be transferred to the employee’s credit. The annual leave, sick leave, and home leave to the credit of an employee of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard who is subject to this subchapter and who moves without a break in service of more than 3 days to a position under a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, respectively, described in section 2105(c), shall be transferred to the employee’s credit under the nonappropriated fund instrumentality. The Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as appropriate, may provide for a transfer of funds in an amount equal to the value of the transferred annual leave to compensate the gaining entity for the cost of a transfer of annual leave under this subsection.

[§ 6309 Repealed. Pub. L. 94–183, § 2(26), Dec. 31, 1975, 89 Stat. 1058]

§ 6310 Leave of absence; aliens

The head of the agency concerned may grant leave of absence with pay, not in excess of the amount of annual and sick leave allowable to citizen employees under this subchapter, to alien employees who occupy positions outside the United States. ( Pub. L. 89–554 , Sept. 6, 1966 , 80 Stat. 521 .)

§ 6311 Regulations

The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this subchapter. ( Pub. L. 89–554 , Sept. 6, 1966 , 80 Stat. 521 ; Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, § 906(a)(2) , Oct. 13, 1978 , 92 Stat. 1224 .)

§ 6312 Accrual and accumulation for former ASCS county office and nonappropriated fund employees

(a) Credit shall be given in determining years of service for the purpose of section 6303(a) for— service as an employee of a county committee established pursuant to section 8(b) of the Soil Conservation and Allotment Act or of a committee or an association of producers described in section 10(b) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act; and service under a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard described in section 2105(c) by an employee who has moved without a break in service of more than 3 days to a position subject to this subchapter in the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, respectively.

(b) The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of section 6308 for transfer of leave between leave systems shall apply to the leave systems established for such county office employees and employees of such Department of Defense and Coast Guard nonappropriated fund instrumentalities, respectively.

§ 6321 Absence of veterans to attend funeral services

An employee in or under an Executive agency who is a veteran of a war, or of a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or a member of an honor or ceremonial group of an organization of those veterans, may be excused from duty without loss of pay or deduction from annual leave for the time necessary, not to exceed 4 hours in any one day, to enable him to participate as an active pallbearer or as a member of a firing squad or a guard of honor in a funeral ceremony for a member of the armed forces whose remains are returned from abroad for final interment in the United States. ( Pub. L. 89–554 , Sept. 6, 1966 , 80 Stat. 521 .)

§ 6322 Leave for jury or witness service; official duty status for certain witness service

(a) An employee as defined by section 2105 of this title (except an individual whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives) or an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia is entitled to leave, without loss of, or reduction in, pay, leave to which he otherwise is entitled, credit for time or service, or performance of efficiency rating, during a period of absence with respect to which he is summoned, in connection with a judicial proceeding, by a court or authority responsible for the conduct of that proceeding, to serve— as a juror; or other than as provided in subsection (b) of this section, as a witness on behalf of any party in connection with any judicial proceeding to which the United States, the District of Columbia, or a State or local government is a party; in the District of Columbia, a State, territory, or possession of the United States including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. For the purpose of this subsection, “judicial proceeding” means any action, suit, or other judicial proceeding, including any condemnation, preliminary, informational, or other proceeding of a judicial nature, but does not include an administrative proceeding.

(b) An employee as defined by section 2105 of this title (except an individual whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives) or an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia is performing official duty during the period with respect to which he is summoned, or assigned by his agency, to— testify or produce official records on behalf of the United States or the District of Columbia; or testify in his official capacity or produce official records on behalf of a party other than the United States or the District of Columbia.

(c) The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations for the administration of this section.

§ 6323 Military leave: Reserves, National Guard members, and certain members of the Space Force

(a) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an employee as defined by section 2105 of this title or an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia, permanent or temporary indefinite, is entitled to leave without loss in pay, time, or performance or efficiency rating for active duty, inactive-duty training (as defined in section 101 of title 37 ), funeral honors duty (as described in section 12503 of title 10 and section 115 of title 32 ), or engaging in field or coast defense training under sections 502–505 of title 32 as a Reserve of the armed forces, a member of the National Guard, or a member of the Space Force in space force active status (as defined in section 101(e)(1) of title 10 ) and not on sustained duty under section 20105 of title 10 . Leave under this subsection accrues for an employee or individual at the rate of 20 days per fiscal year and, to the extent that it is not used in a fiscal year, accumulates for use in the succeeding fiscal year until it totals 20 days at the beginning of a fiscal year. In the case of an employee or individual employed on a part-time career employment basis (as defined in section 3401(2) of this title ), the rate at which leave accrues under this subsection shall be a percentage of the rate prescribed under paragraph (1) which is determined by dividing 40 into the number of hours in the regularly scheduled workweek of that employee or individual during that fiscal year. The minimum charge for leave under this subsection is one hour, and additional charges are in multiples thereof.

(b) Except as provided by section 5519 of this title , an employee as defined by section 2105 of this title or an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia, permanent or temporary indefinite, who— is a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces, as described in section 10101 of title 10 , or the National Guard, as described in section 101 of title 32 or is a member of the Space Force in space force active status (as defined in section 101(e)(1) of title 10 ) and not on sustained duty under section 20105 of title 10 ; and performs, for the purpose of providing military aid to enforce the law or for the purpose of providing assistance to civil authorities in the protection or saving of life or property or the prevention of injury— Federal service under section 331, 332, 333, 1 or 12406 of title 10, or other provision of law, as applicable, or full-time military service for his State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States; or performs full-time military service as a result of a call or order to active duty in support of a contingency operation as defined in section 101(a)(13) of title 10 ; is entitled, during and because of such service, to leave without loss of, or reduction in, pay, leave to which he otherwise is entitled, credit for time or service, or performance or efficiency rating. Leave granted by this subsection shall not exceed 22 workdays in a calendar year. Upon the request of an employee, the period for which an employee is absent to perform service described in paragraph (2) may be charged to the employee’s accrued annual leave or to compensatory time available to the employee instead of being charged as leave to which the employee is entitled under this subsection. The period of absence may not be charged to sick leave.

(c) An employee as defined by section 2105 of this title or an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia, who is a member of the National Guard of the District of Columbia, is entitled to leave without loss in pay or time for each day of a parade or encampment ordered or authorized under title 39, District of Columbia Code. This subsection covers each day of service the National Guard, or a portion thereof, is ordered to perform by the commanding general.

(d) A military reserve technician described in section 8401(30) 1 is entitled at such person’s request to leave without loss of, or reduction in, pay, leave to which such person is otherwise entitled, credit for time or service, or performance or efficiency rating for each day, not to exceed 44 workdays in a calendar year, in which such person is on active duty without pay, as authorized pursuant to section 12315 of title 10 , under section 12301(b) or 12301(d) of title 10 for participation in operations outside the United States, its territories and possessions. An employee who requests annual leave or compensatory time to which the employee is otherwise entitled, for a period during which the employee would have been entitled upon request to leave under this subsection, may be granted such annual leave or compensatory time without regard to this section or section 5519.

“During the current fiscal year and hereafter, funds appropriated or otherwise available for any Federal agency, the Congress, the judicial branch, or the District of Columbia may be used for the pay, allowances, and benefits of an employee as defined by section 2105 of title 5 , United States Code, or an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia, permanent or temporary indefinite, who— is a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces, as described in section 10101 of title 10 , United States Code, or the National Guard, as described in section 101 of title 32 , United States Code; performs, for the purpose of providing military aid to enforce the law or providing assistance to civil authorities in the protection or saving of life or property or prevention of injury— Federal service under sections 331 [now 251], 332 [now 252], 333 [now 253], or 12406 of title 10, United States Code, or other provision of law, as applicable; or full-time military service for his or her State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States; and requests and is granted— leave under the authority of this section; or annual leave, which may be granted without regard to the provisions of sections 5519 and 6323(b) of title 5, United States Code, if such employee is otherwise entitled to such annual leave: Provided , That any employee who requests leave under subsection (3)(A) for service described in subsection (2) of this section is entitled to such leave, subject to the provisions of this section and of the last sentence of section 6323(b) of title 5 , United States Code, and such leave shall be considered leave under section 6323(b) of title 5 , United States Code.”

§ 6324 Absence of certain police and firemen

(a) Sick leave may not be charged to the account of a member of the Metropolitan Police force or the Fire Department of the District of Columbia, the United States Park Police force, or the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division for an absence due to injury or illness resulting from the performance of duty.

(b) The determination of whether an injury or illness resulted from the performance of duty shall be made under regulations prescribed by— the District of Columbia Council for members of the Metropolitan Police force and the Fire Department of the District of Columbia; the Secretary of the Interior for the United States Park Police force; and the Secretary of Homeland Security for the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division.

(c) This section shall not apply to members of the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division who are covered under chapter 84 for the purpose of retirement benefits.

§ 6325 Absence resulting from hostile action abroad

Leave may not be charged to the account of an employee for absence, not to exceed one year, due to an injury— incurred while serving abroad and resulting from war, insurgency, mob violence, or similar hostile action; and not due to vicious habits, intemperance, or willful misconduct on the part of the employee. The preceding provisions of this section shall apply in the case of an alien employee referred to in section 6301(2)(viii) of this title with respect to any leave granted to such alien employee under section 6310 of this title or section 408 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980. (Added Pub. L. 90–221, § 3(a) , Dec. 23, 1967 , 81 Stat. 671 ; amended Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(41) , Aug. 14, 1979 , 93 Stat. 383 ; Pub. L. 99–399, title VIII, § 804 , Aug. 27, 1986 , 100 Stat. 883 .)

§ 6326 Absence in connection with funerals of immediate relatives in the Armed Forces

(a) An employee of an executive agency or an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia is entitled to not more than three days of leave without loss of, or reduction in, pay, leave to which he is otherwise entitled, credit for time or service, or performance or efficiency rating, to make arrangements for, or attend the funeral of, or memorial service for, an immediate relative who died as a result of wounds, disease, or injury incurred while serving as a member of the Armed Forces in a combat zone (as determined by the President in accordance with section 112 of the Internal Revenue Code).

(b) The Office of Personnel Management is authorized to issue regulations for the administration of this section.

(c) This section shall not be considered as affecting the authority of an Executive agency, except to the extent and under the conditions covered under this section, to grant administrative leave excusing an employee from work when it is in the public interest.

§ 6327 Absence in connection with serving as a bone-marrow or organ donor

(a) An employee in or under an Executive agency is entitled to leave without loss of or reduction in pay, leave to which otherwise entitled, credit for time or service, or performance or efficiency rating, for the time necessary to permit such employee to serve as a bone-marrow or organ donor.

(b) An employee may, in any calendar year, use— not to exceed 7 days of leave under this section to serve as a bone-marrow donor; and not to exceed 30 days of leave under this section to serve as an organ donor.

(c) The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations for the administration of this section.

§ 6328 Absence in connection with funerals of fellow Federal law enforcement officers

A Federal law enforcement officer or a Federal firefighter may be excused from duty without loss of, or reduction in, pay or leave to which such officer is otherwise entitled, or credit for time or service, or performance or efficiency rating, to attend the funeral of a fellow Federal law enforcement officer or Federal firefighter, who was killed in the line of duty. When so excused from duty, attendance at such service shall for the purposes of section 1345(a) of title 31 , be considered to be an official duty of the officer or firefighter. (Added Pub. L. 103–329, title VI, § 642 , Sept. 30, 1994 , 108 Stat. 2432 , § 6327; renumbered § 6328, Pub. L. 106–56, § 1(c)(1) , Sept. 24, 1999 , 113 Stat. 407 .)

§ 6329 Disabled veteran leave

(a) During the 12-month period beginning on the first day of employment, any employee who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 30 percent or more is entitled to leave, without loss or reduction in pay, for purposes of undergoing medical treatment for such disability for which sick leave could regularly be used.

(b) The leave credited to an employee under subsection (a) may not exceed 104 hours. Any leave credited to an employee pursuant to subsection (a) that is not used during the 12-month period described in such subsection may not be carried over and shall be forfeited.

(c) In order to verify that leave credited to an employee pursuant to subsection (a) is used for treating a service-connected disability, such employee shall submit to the head of the employing agency certification, in such form and manner as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may prescribe, that such employee used such leave for purposes of being furnished treatment for such disability by a health care provider. In the case of an employee of an office of the legislative branch, the certification described in paragraph (1) shall be prescribed— in the case of an employee of the House of Representatives, by the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives; in the case of an employee of the Senate, by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate; or in the case of an employee of any other office of the legislative branch, by the head of the office.

(d) In this section— the term “employee” has the meaning given such term in section 2105, and includes— an officer or employee of the United States Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission; and notwithstanding subsection (a) of section 7421 of title 38 , an individual occupying a position listed in subsection (b) of such section; the term “service-connected” has the meaning given such term in section 101(16) of title 38 ; and the term “veteran” has the meaning given such term in section 101(2) of such title.

§ 6329a Administrative leave

(a) Definitions.— In this section— the term “administrative leave” means leave— without loss of or reduction in— pay; leave to which an employee is otherwise entitled under law; or credit for time or service; and that is not authorized under any other provision of law; the term “agency”— means an Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of this title ); includes the Department of Veterans Affairs; and does not include the Government Accountability Office; and the term “employee”— has the meaning given the term in section 2105; and does not include an intermittent employee who does not have an established regular tour of duty during the administrative workweek.

(b) Administrative Leave.— During any calendar year, an agency may place an employee in administrative leave for a period of not more than a total of 10 work days. An agency shall record administrative leave separately from leave authorized under any other provision of law.

(c) Regulations.— Not later than 270 calendar days after the date of enactment of this section, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall— prescribe regulations to carry out this section; and prescribe regulations that provide guidance to agencies regarding— acceptable agency uses of administrative leave; and the proper recording of— administrative leave; and other leave authorized by law. Not later than 270 calendar days after the date on which the Director of the Office of Personnel Management prescribes regulations under paragraph (1), each agency shall revise and implement the internal policies of the agency to meet the requirements of this section.

(d) Relation to Other Laws.— Notwithstanding subsection (a) of section 7421 of title 38 , this section shall apply to an employee described in subsection (b) of that section.

§ 6329b Investigative leave and notice leave

(a) Definitions.— In this section— the term “agency”— means an Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of this title ); includes the Department of Veterans Affairs; and does not include the Government Accountability Office; the term “Chief Human Capital Officer” means— the Chief Human Capital Officer of an agency designated or appointed under section 1401; or the equivalent; the term “committees of jurisdiction”, with respect to an agency, means each committee of the Senate or House of Representatives with jurisdiction over the agency; the term “Director” means the Director of the Office of Personnel Management; the term “employee”— has the meaning given the term in section 2105; and does not include— an intermittent employee who does not have an established regular tour of duty during the administrative workweek; or the Inspector General of an agency; the term “investigative entity” means— an internal investigative unit of an agency granting investigative leave under this section; the Office of Inspector General of an agency granting investigative leave under this section; the Attorney General; and the Office of Special Counsel; the term “investigative leave” means leave— without loss of or reduction in— pay; leave to which an employee is otherwise entitled under law; or credit for time or service; that is not authorized under any other provision of law; and in which an employee who is the subject of an investigation is placed; the term “notice leave” means leave— without loss of or reduction in— pay; leave to which an employee is otherwise entitled under law; or credit for time or service; that is not authorized under any other provision of law; and in which an employee who is in a notice period is placed; and the term “notice period” means a period beginning on the date on which an employee is provided notice required under law of a proposed adverse action against the employee and ending on the date on which an agency may take the adverse action.

(b) Leave for Employees Under Investigation or in a Notice Period.— An agency may, in accordance with paragraph (2), place an employee in— investigative leave if the employee is the subject of an investigation; notice leave if the employee is in a notice period; or notice leave following a placement in investigative leave if, not later than the day after the last day of the period of investigative leave— the agency proposes or initiates an adverse action against the employee; and the agency determines that the employee continues to meet 1 or more of the criteria described in paragraph (2)(A). An agency may place an employee in leave under paragraph (1) only if the agency has— made a determination with respect to the employee that the continued presence of the employee in the workplace during an investigation of the employee or while the employee is in a notice period, as applicable, may— pose a threat to the employee or others; result in the destruction of evidence relevant to an investigation; result in loss of or damage to Government property; or otherwise jeopardize legitimate Government interests; considered— assigning the employee to duties in which the employee no longer poses a threat described in clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (A); allowing the employee to take leave for which the employee is eligible; if the employee is absent from duty without approved leave, carrying the employee in absence without leave status; and for an employee subject to a notice period, curtailing the notice period if there is reasonable cause to believe the employee has committed a crime for which a sentence of imprisonment may be imposed; and determined that none of the available options under clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (B) is appropriate. Upon the expiration of the 10 work day period described in section 6329a(b)(1) with respect to an employee, and if an agency determines that an extended investigation of the employee is necessary, the agency may place the employee in investigative leave for a period of not more than 30 work days. Placement of an employee in notice leave shall be for a period not longer than the duration of the notice period. If an agency places an employee in leave under this subsection, the agency shall provide the employee a written explanation of whether the employee was placed in investigative leave or notice leave. The written notice under subparagraph (A) shall describe the limitations of the leave placement, including— the applicable limitations under paragraph (3); and in the case of a placement in investigative leave, an explanation that, at the conclusion of the period of leave, the agency shall take an action under paragraph (5). Not later than the day after the last day of a period of investigative leave for an employee under paragraph (1), an agency shall— return the employee to regular duty status; take 1 or more of the actions under clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph (2)(B); propose or initiate an adverse action against the employee as provided under law; or extend the period of investigative leave under subsections (c) and (d). Nothing in paragraph (5) shall be construed to prevent the continued investigation of an employee, except that the placement of an employee in investigative leave may not be extended for that purpose except as provided in subsections (c) and (d).

(c) Initial Extension of Investigative Leave.— Subject to paragraph (4), if the Chief Human Capital Officer of an agency, or the designee of the Chief Human Capital Officer, approves such an extension after consulting with the investigator responsible for conducting the investigation to which an employee is subject, the agency may extend the period of investigative leave for the employee under subsection (b) for not more than 30 work days. The total period of additional investigative leave for an employee under paragraph (1) may not exceed 90 work days. Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Chief Human Capital Officers Council shall issue guidance to ensure that if the Chief Human Capital Officer of an agency delegates the authority to approve an extension under paragraph (1) to a designee, the designee is at a sufficiently high level within the agency to make an impartial and independent determination regarding the extension. In the case of an employee of an Office of Inspector General— the Inspector General or the designee of the Inspector General, rather than the Chief Human Capital Officer or the designee of the Chief Human Capital Officer, shall approve an extension of a period of investigative leave for the employee under paragraph (1); or at the request of the Inspector General, the head of the agency within which the Office of Inspector General is located shall designate an official of the agency to approve an extension of a period of investigative leave for the employee under paragraph (1). Not later than 270 calendar days after the date of enactment of this section, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency shall issue guidance to ensure that if the Inspector General or the head of an agency, at the request of the Inspector General, delegates the authority to approve an extension under subparagraph (A) to a designee, the designee is at a sufficiently high level within the Office of Inspector General or the agency, as applicable, to make an impartial and independent determination regarding the extension.

(d) Further Extension of Investigative Leave.— After reaching the limit under subsection (c)(2) and if an investigative entity submits a certification under paragraph (2) of this subsection, an agency may further extend a period of investigative leave for an employee for periods of not more than 30 work days each if, not later than 5 business days after granting each further extension, the agency submits to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, along with any other committees of jurisdiction, a report containing— the title, position, office or agency subcomponent, job series, pay grade, and salary of the employee; a description of the duties of the employee; the reason the employee was placed in investigative leave; an explanation as to why— the employee poses a threat described in clauses (i) through (iv) of subsection (b)(2)(A); and the agency is not able to reassign the employee to another position within the agency; in the case of an employee required to telework under section 6502(c) during the investigation of the employee— the reasons that the agency required the employee to telework under that section; and the duration of the teleworking requirement; the status of the investigation of the employee; the certification described in paragraph (2); and in the case of a completed investigation of the employee— the results of the investigation; and the reason that the employee remains in investigative leave. If, after an employee has reached the limit under subsection (c)(2), an investigative entity determines that additional time is needed to complete the investigation of the employee, the investigative entity shall— certify to the appropriate agency that additional time is needed to complete the investigation of the employee; and include in the certification an estimate of the amount of time that is necessary to complete the investigation of the employee. An agency may not further extend a period of investigative leave of an employee under paragraph (1) on or after the date that is 30 calendar days after the completion of the investigation of the employee by an investigative entity.

(e) Consultation Guidance.— Not later than 270 calendar days after the date of enactment of this section, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Special Counsel, shall issue guidance on best practices for consultation between an investigator and an agency on the need to place an employee in investigative leave during an investigation of the employee, including during a criminal investigation, because the continued presence of the employee in the workplace during the investigation may— pose a threat to the employee or others; result in the destruction of evidence relevant to an investigation; result in loss of or damage to Government property; or otherwise jeopardize legitimate Government interests.

(f) Reporting and Records.— An agency shall keep a record of the placement of an employee in investigative leave or notice leave by the agency, including— the basis for the determination made under subsection (b)(2)(A); an explanation of why an action under clauses (i) through (iv) of subsection (b)(2)(B) was not appropriate; the length of the period of leave; the amount of salary paid to the employee during the period of leave; the reasons for authorizing the leave, including, if applicable, the recommendation made by an investigator under subsection (c)(1); whether the employee is required to telework under section 6502(c) during the investigation, including the reasons for requiring the employee to telework; and the action taken by the agency at the end of the period of leave, including, if applicable, the granting of any extension of a period of investigative leave under subsection (c) or (d). An agency shall make a record kept under paragraph (1) available— to any committee of jurisdiction, upon request; to the Office of Personnel Management; and as otherwise required by law, including for the purposes of the Administrative Leave Act of 2016 and the amendments made by that Act.

(g) Recourse to the Office of Special Counsel.— For purposes of subchapter II of chapter 12 and section 1221, placement on investigative leave under subsection (b) of this section for a period of not less than 70 work days shall be considered a personnel action under paragraph (8) or (9) of section 2302(b).

(h) Regulations.— Not later than 270 calendar days after the date of enactment of this section, the Director shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section, including guidance to agencies regarding— acceptable purposes for the use of— investigative leave; and notice leave; the proper recording of— the leave categories described in subparagraph (A); and other leave authorized by law; baseline factors that an agency shall consider when making a determination that the continued presence of an employee in the workplace may— pose a threat to the employee or others; result in the destruction of evidence relevant to an investigation; result in loss or damage to Government property; or otherwise jeopardize legitimate Government interests; and procedures and criteria for the approval of an extension of a period of investigative leave under subsection (c) or (d). Not later than 270 calendar days after the date on which the Director prescribes regulations under paragraph (1), each agency shall revise and implement the internal policies of the agency to meet the requirements of this section.

(i) Relation to Other Laws.— Notwithstanding subsection (a) of section 7421 of title 38 , this section shall apply to an employee described in subsection (b) of that section.

§ 6329c Weather and safety leave

(a) Definitions.— In this section— the term “agency”— means an Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of this title ); includes the Department of Veterans Affairs; and does not include the Government Accountability Office; and the term “employee”— has the meaning given the term in section 2105; and does not include an intermittent employee who does not have an established regular tour of duty during the administrative workweek.

(b) Leave for Weather and Safety Issues.— An agency may approve the provision of leave under this section to an employee or a group of employees without loss of or reduction in the pay of the employee or employees, leave to which the employee or employees are otherwise entitled, or credit to the employee or employees for time or service only if the employee or group of employees is prevented from safely traveling to or performing work at an approved location due to— an act of God; a terrorist attack; or another condition that prevents the employee or group of employees from safely traveling to or performing work at an approved location.

(c) Records.— An agency shall record leave provided under this section separately from leave authorized under any other provision of law.

(d) Regulations.— Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section, including— guidance to agencies regarding the appropriate purposes for providing leave under this section; and the proper recording of leave provided under this section.

(e) Relation to Other Laws.— Notwithstanding subsection (a) of section 7421 of title 38 , this section shall apply to an employee described in subsection (b) of that section.

§ 6329d Parental bereavement leave

(a) Definitions.— In this section— the terms “employee” and “son or daughter” have the meanings given those terms in section 6381; and the term “paid leave” means, with respect to an employee, leave without loss of or reduction in— pay; leave to which the employee is otherwise entitled under law; or credit for time or service.

(b) Bereavement Leave.— Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), an employee shall be entitled to a total of 2 administrative workweeks of paid leave during any 12-month period because of the death of a son or daughter of the employee. Leave under paragraph (1) may not be taken by an employee intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule unless the employee and the employing agency of the employee agree otherwise. In any case in which the necessity for leave under this subsection is foreseeable, the employee shall provide the employing agency with such notice as is reasonable and practicable.

§ 6331 Definitions

For the purpose of this subchapter— the term “employee” means an employee as defined by section 6301(2), excluding an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia; the term “leave recipient” means an employee whose application to receive donations of leave under this subchapter is approved; the term “leave donor” means an employee whose application to make 1 or more donations of leave under this subchapter is approved; and the term “medical emergency” means a medical condition of an employee or a family member of such employee that is likely to require the prolonged absence of such employee from duty and to result in a substantial loss of income to such employee because of the unavailability of paid leave (disregarding any advanced leave). (Added Pub. L. 100–566, § 2(a) , Oct. 31, 1988 , 102 Stat. 2834 ; amended Pub. L. 103–103, § 3 , Oct. 8, 1993 , 107 Stat. 1022 .)

§ 6332 General authority

Notwithstanding any provision of subchapter I, and subject to the provisions of this subchapter, the Office of Personnel Management shall establish a program under which annual leave accrued or accumulated by an employee may be transferred to the annual leave account of any other employee if such other employee requires additional leave because of a medical emer­gency. (Added Pub. L. 100–566, § 2(a) , Oct. 31, 1988 , 102 Stat. 2834 .)

§ 6333 Receipt and use of transferred leave

(a) An application to receive donations of leave under this subchapter, whether submitted by or on behalf of an employee— shall be submitted to the employing agency of the proposed leave recipient; and shall include— the name, position title, and grade or pay level of the proposed leave recipient; the reasons why transferred leave is needed, including a brief description of the nature, severity, anticipated duration, and, if it is a recurring one, the approximate frequency of the medical emergency involved; if the employing agency so requires, certification from 1 or more physicians, or other appropriate experts, with respect to any matter under clause (ii); and any other information which the employing agency may reasonably require. If an agency requires that an employee obtain certification under paragraph (1)(B)(iii) from 2 or more sources, the agency shall ensure, either by direct payment to the expert involved or by reimbursement, that the employee is not required to pay for the expenses associated with obtaining certification from more than 1 of such sources. An employing agency shall approve or disapprove an application of a proposed leave recipient for leave under this subchapter, and, to the extent practicable, shall notify the proposed leave recipient (or other person acting on behalf of the proposed recipient, if appropriate) of the decision of the agency, in writing, within 10 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) after receiving such application.

(b) A leave recipient may use annual leave received under this subchapter in the same manner and for the same purposes as if such leave recipient had accrued that leave under section 6303, except that any annual leave, and any sick leave, accrued or accumulated by the leave recipient and available for the purpose involved must be exhausted before any transferred annual leave may be used. The requirement under paragraph (1) relating to exhaustion of annual and sick leave shall not apply in the case of a leave recipient who— sustains a combat-related disability while a member of the armed forces, including a reserve component of the armed forces; and is undergoing medical treatment for that disability. Subparagraph (A) shall apply to a member described in such subparagraph only so long as the member continues to undergo medical treatment for the disability, but in no event for longer than 5 years from the start of such treatment. For purposes of this paragraph— the term “combat-related disability” has the meaning given such term by section 1413a(e) of title 10 ; and the term “medical treatment” has such meaning as the Office of Personnel Management shall by regulation prescribe.

(c) Transferred annual leave— may accumulate without regard to any limitation under section 6304; and may be substituted retroactively for any period of leave without pay, or used to liquidate an indebtedness for any period of advanced leave, which began on or after a date fixed by the employing agency of the employee as the beginning of the medical emergency involved.

§ 6334 Donations of leave

(a) An employee may, by written application to the employing agency of such employee, request that a specified number of hours be transferred from the annual leave account of such employee to the annual leave account of a leave recipient in accordance with section 6332.

(b) In any one leave year, a leave donor may donate no more than a total of one-half of the amount of annual leave such donor would be entitled to accrue during the leave year in which the donation is made. A leave donor who is projected to have annual leave that otherwise would be subject to forfeiture at the end of the leave year under section 6304(a) may donate no more than the number of hours remaining in the leave year (as of the date of the transfer) for which the leave donor is scheduled to work and receive pay. The employing agency of a leave donor may waive the limitation under paragraphs (1) and (2). Any such waiver shall be made in writing.

(c) The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to include procedures to carry out this subchapter when the leave donor and the leave recipient are employed by different agencies.

§ 6335 Termination of medical emergency

(a) The medical emergency affecting a leave recipient shall, for purposes of this subchapter, be considered to have terminated on the date as of which— the leave recipient notifies the employing agency of such leave recipient, in writing, that the medical emergency no longer exists; the employing agency of such leave recipient determines, after written notice and opportunity for the leave recipient (or, if appropriate, another person acting on behalf of the leave recipient) to answer orally or in writing, that the medical emergency no longer exists; or the leave recipient is separated from service.

(b) The employing agency of a leave recipient shall, consistent with guidelines prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, establish procedures to ensure that a leave recipient is not permitted to use or receive any transferred leave under this subchapter after the medical emergency terminates. Nothing in section 5551, 5552, or 6306 shall apply with respect to any annual leave transferred to a leave recipient under this subchapter.

§ 6336 Restoration of transferred leave

(a) The Office of Personnel Management shall establish procedures under which, except as provided in paragraph (2), any transferred leave remaining to the credit of a leave recipient when the medical emergency affecting the leave recipient terminates shall be restored on a prorated basis by transfer to the appropriate accounts of the respective leave donors. Nothing in paragraph (1) shall require the restoration of leave to a leave donor— if the amount of leave which would be restored to such donor would be less than 1 hour or any other shorter period of time which the Office may by regulation prescribe; if such donor retires, dies, or is otherwise separated from service, before the date on which such restoration would otherwise be made; or if such restoration is not administratively feasible, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Office.

(b) At the election of the leave donor, transferred annual leave restored to such leave donor under subsection (a) may be restored by— crediting such leave to the leave donor’s annual leave account in the then current leave year; crediting such leave to the leave donor’s annual leave account, effective as of the first day of the first leave year beginning after the date of the election; or donating such leave in whole or part to another leave recipient; if a leave donor elects to donate only part of restored leave to another recipient, the donor may elect to have the remaining leave credited to the donor’s annual leave account in accordance with paragraph (1) or (2).

(c) The Office shall prescribe regulations under which this section shall be applied in the case of an employee who is paid other than on the basis of biweekly pay periods.

(d) Restorations of leave under this section shall be carried out in a manner consistent with regulations prescribed to carry out section 6334(c), if applicable.

§ 6337 Accrual of leave

(a) For the purpose of this section— the term “paid leave status under subchapter I”, as used with respect to an employee, means the administrative status of such employee while such employee is using sick leave, or annual leave, accrued or accumulated under subchapter I; and the term “transferred leave status”, as used with respect to an employee, means the administrative status of such employee while such employee is using transferred leave under this subchapter.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, while an employee is in a transferred leave status, annual leave and sick leave shall accrue to the credit of such employee at the same rate as if such employee were then in a paid leave status under subchapter I, except that— the maximum amount of annual leave which may be accrued by an employee while in transferred leave status in connection with any particular medical emergency may not exceed 5 days; and the maximum amount of sick leave which may be accrued by an employee while in transferred leave status in connection with any particular medical emergency may not exceed 5 days. Any annual or sick leave accrued by an employee under this section— shall be credited to an annual leave or sick leave account, as appropriate, separate from any leave account of such employee under subchapter I; and shall not become available for use by such employee, and may not otherwise be taken into account under subchapter I, until, in accordance with subsection (c), it is transferred to the appropriate leave account of such employee under subchapter I.

(c) Any annual or sick leave accrued by an employee under this section shall be transferred to the appropriate leave account of such employee under subchapter I, and shall be available for use— as of the beginning of the first applicable pay period beginning after the date on which the employee’s medical emergency terminates as described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 6335(a); or if the employee’s medical emergency has not yet terminated, once the employee has exhausted all transferred leave made available to such employee under this subchapter. In the event that the employee’s medical emergency terminates as described in section 6335(a)(3)— any leave accrued but not yet transferred under this section shall not be credited to such employee; or if there remains, as of the date the emergency so terminates, any leave which became available to such employee under paragraph (1)(B), such leave shall cease to be available for any purpose.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be considered to prevent, with respect to a continuing medical emergency, further transfers of leave for use after leave accrued under this section has been exhausted by the employee.

§ 6338 Prohibition of coercion

(a) An employee may not directly or indirectly intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other employee for the purpose of interfering with any right which such employee may have with respect to contributing, receiving, or using annual leave under this subchapter.

(b) For the purpose of subsection (a), the term “intimidate, threaten, or coerce” includes promising to confer or conferring any benefit (such as an appointment, promotion, or compensation), or effecting or threatening to effect any reprisal (such as deprivation of appointment, promotion, or compensation).

§ 6339 Additional leave transfer programs

(a) For the purpose of this section— the term “excepted agency” means— the Central Intelligence Agency; the Defense Intelligence Agency; the National Security Agency; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and as determined by the President, any Executive agency or unit thereof, the principal function of which is the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities; and the term “head of an excepted agency” means— with respect to the Central Intelligence Agency, the Director of Central Intelligence; with respect to the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency; with respect to the National Security Agency, the Director of the National Security Agency; with respect to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; with respect to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and with respect to an Executive agency designated under paragraph (1)(F), the head of such Executive agency, and with respect to a unit of an Executive agency designated under paragraph (1)(F), such individual as the President may determine.

(b) The head of an excepted agency shall, by regulation, establish a program under which annual leave accrued or accumulated by an employee of such agency may be transferred to the annual leave account of any other employee of such agency if such other employee requires additional leave because of a medical emergency. To the extent practicable, and consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods (if applicable), each program under this subsection shall be established— in a manner consistent with the provisions of this subchapter applicable to the program; and without regard to any provisions relating to transfers or restorations of leave between employees in different agencies.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (b), the head of an excepted agency may, at his sole discretion, by regulation establish a program under which an individual employed in or under such excepted agency may participate in a leave transfer program established under the provisions of this subchapter outside of this section, including provisions permitting the transfer of annual leave accrued or accumulated by such employee to, or permitting such employee to receive transferred leave from, an employee of any other agency (including another excepted agency having a program under this subsection). To the extent practicable and consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods, any program established under paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the provisions of this subchapter outside of this section and with any regulations issued by the Office of Personnel Management implementing this subchapter.

(d) The Office shall provide the head of an excepted agency with such advice and assistance as the head of such agency may request in order to carry out the purposes of this section.

§ 6340 Inapplicability of certain provisions

Except to the extent that the Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations, nothing in section 7351 shall apply with respect to a solicitation, donation, or acceptance of leave under this subchapter. (Added Pub. L. 100–566, § 2(a) , Oct. 31, 1988 , 102 Stat. 2838 .)

§ 6361 Definitions

For the purpose of this subchapter the term— “employee” means an employee as defined by section 6301(2), but shall exclude any individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia; “executive agency” means any executive agency or any administrative unit thereof; “leave bank” means a leave bank established under section 6363; “leave contributor” means an employee who contributes leave to an agency leave bank under section 6365; “leave recipient” means an employee whose application under section 6367 to receive contributions of leave from a leave bank is approved; and “medical emergency” means a medical condition of an employee or a family member of such employee that is likely to require the prolonged absence of such employee from duty and to result in a substantial loss of income to such employee because of the unavailability of paid leave (disregarding any advanced leave). (Added Pub. L. 100–566, § 2(a) , Oct. 31, 1988 , 102 Stat. 2839 ; amended Pub. L. 103–103, § 3(a) , Oct. 8, 1993 , 107 Stat. 1022 .)

§ 6362 General authority

Notwithstanding any provision of subchapter I, and subject to the provisions of this subchapter, the Office of Personnel Management shall establish a program under which— annual leave accrued or accumulated by an employee may be contributed to a leave bank established by the employing agency of such employee; and leave from such a leave bank may be made available to an employee who requires such leave because of a medical emergency. (Added Pub. L. 100–566, § 2(a) , Oct. 31, 1988 , 102 Stat. 2839 ; amended Pub. L. 103–103, § 5(b) , Oct. 8, 1993 , 107 Stat. 1023 .)

§ 6363 Establishment of leave banks

Each agency that establishes a leave bank program under section 6362 shall establish 1 or more leave banks in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management. (Added Pub. L. 100–566, § 2(a) , Oct. 31, 1988 , 102 Stat. 2839 .)

§ 6364 Establishment of Leave Bank Boards

(a) Each agency that establishes a leave bank shall establish a Leave Bank Board consisting of 3 members, at least one of whom shall represent a labor organization or employee group, to administer the leave bank under the provisions of this subchapter, in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management. An agency may establish more than 1 Leave Bank Board based upon the administrative units within the agency. No more than 1 board may be established for each leave bank.

(b) Each such Board shall— review and approve applications to the leave bank under section 6367; monitor each case of a leave recipient; monitor the amount of leave in the leave bank and the number of applications for use of leave from the bank; and maintain an adequate amount of leave in the leave bank to the greatest extent practicable.

§ 6365 Contributions of annual leave

(a) An employee may, by written application to the Leave Bank Board, request that a specified number of hours be transferred from the annual leave account of such employee to the leave bank established by such agency. An employee may state a concern and desire to aid a specified proposed leave recipient or a leave recipient in the application filed under paragraph (1).

(b) Upon approving an application under subsection (a), the employing agency of the leave contributor may transfer all or any part of the number of hours requested for transfer, except that the number of hours so transferred may not exceed the limitations under paragraph (2). In any one leave year, a leave contributor may contribute no more than a total of one-half of the amount of annual leave such contributor would be entitled to accrue during the leave year in which the contribution is made. A leave contributor who is projected to have annual leave that otherwise would be subject to forfeiture at the end of the leave year under section 6304(a) may contribute no more than the number of hours remaining in the leave year (as of the date of the contribution) for which the leave contributor is scheduled to work and receive pay.

(c) The Leave Bank Board of a leave contributor may waive the limitations under subsection (b)(2). Any such waiver shall be in writing.

(d) The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations establishing an open enrollment period during which an employee may contribute leave under subsection (a) for a leave year.

§ 6366 Eligibility for leave recipients

(a) An employee is eligible to be a leave recipient if such employee— experiences a medical emergency and submits an application pursuant to section 6367(a); and contributes the minimum number of hours as required under subsection (b) of accrued or accumulated annual leave to the leave bank of the employing agency of such employee, in the leave year (beginning in and including any part of a leave year in which such leave bank is established) that such employee submits an application to be a leave recipient under section 6367(a); and such contribution is made before such employee submits an application under section 6367(a).

(b) An employee shall contribute the minimum number of hours required under subsection (a)(2)(A), if such employee is an employee— for less than 3 years of service and contributes a minimum of 4 hours; for between 3 years and less than 15 years of service and contributes a minimum of 6 hours; or for 15 years or more of service and contributes a minimum of 8 hours. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), the Leave Bank Board of an agency, after consultation with the Office of Personnel Management, may— reduce the minimum number of hours required under paragraph (1) for any leave year, if such Board determines there is a surplus of leave in the leave bank; and increase the number of minimum hours required under paragraph (1) for the succeeding leave year, in any leave year in which the Board determines there is a shortage of leave in the leave bank.

(c) An employee shall meet the requirements of subsection (a)(2)(A) if such employee contributes the minimum number of hours as required under subsection (b) of accrued or accumulated annual leave to the leave bank with which such employee submits an application to be a leave recipient under section 6367(a).

(d) The provisions of subsection (a) may not be construed to limit the amount of the voluntary contribution of annual leave to a leave bank, which does not exceed the limitations of section 6365(b).

§ 6367 Receipt and use of leave from a leave bank

(a) An application to receive contributions of leave from a leave bank, whether submitted by or on behalf of an employee— shall be submitted to the Leave Bank Board of the employing agency of the proposed leave recipient; and shall include— the name, position title, and grade or pay level of the proposed leave recipient; the reasons why leave is needed, including a brief description of the nature, severity, anticipated duration, and, if it is a recurring one, the approximate frequency of the medical emergency involved; if such Board so requires, certification from 1 or more physicians, or other appropriate experts, with respect to any matter under subparagraph (B); and any other information which such Board may reasonably require. If a Board requires that an employee obtain certification under paragraph (2)(C) from 2 or more sources, the agency shall ensure, either by direct payment to the expert involved or by reimbursement, that the employee is not required to pay for the expenses associated with obtaining certification from more than 1 of such sources.

(b) The Leave Bank Board of an employing agency may approve an application submitted under subsection (a).

(c) A leave recipient may use annual leave received from the leave bank established by the employing agency of such employee under this subchapter in the same manner and for the same purposes as if such leave recipient had accrued such leave under section 6303, except that any annual leave and, if applicable, any sick leave accrued or accumulated to the leave recipient shall be used before any leave from the leave bank may be used.

(d) Transferred annual leave— may accumulate without regard to any limitation under section 6304; and may be substituted retroactively for any period of leave without pay, or used to liquidate an indebtedness for any period of advanced leave, which began on or after a date fixed by the employing agency of the employee as the beginning of the medical emergency involved.

(e) Except to the extent that the Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations, nothing in the provisions of section 7351 shall apply to any solicitation, contribution, or use of leave to or from a leave bank under this subchapter.

§ 6368 Termination of medical emergency

(a) The medical emergency affecting a leave recipient shall, for purposes of this subchapter, be considered to have terminated on the date as of which— the leave recipient notifies the Leave Bank Board in writing, that the medical emergency no longer exists; the Leave Bank Board of such leave recipient determines, after written notice and opportunity for the leave recipient (or, if appropriate, another person acting on behalf of the leave recipient) to answer orally or in writing, that the medical emergency no longer exists; or the leave recipient is separated from service.

(b) The Leave Bank Board of a recipient shall, consistent with guidelines prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, establish procedures to ensure that a leave recipient is not permitted to use or receive any transferred leave under this subchapter after the medical emergency terminates. Nothing in section 5551, 5552, or 6306 shall apply with respect to any annual leave transferred to a leave recipient under this subchapter.

§ 6369 Restoration of transferred leave

The Office of Personnel Management shall establish procedures under which any transferred leave remaining to the credit of a leave recipient when the medical emergency affecting the leave recipient terminates, shall be restored to the leave bank. (Added Pub. L. 100–566, § 2(a) , Oct. 31, 1988 , 102 Stat. 2842 .)

§ 6370 Prohibition of coercion

(a) An employee may not directly or indirectly intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other employee for the purpose of interfering with any right which such employee may have with respect to contributing, receiving, or using annual leave under this subchapter.

(b) For the purpose of subsection (a), the term “intimidate, threaten, or coerce” includes promising to confer or conferring any benefit (such as an appointment, promotion, or compensation), or effecting or threatening to effect any reprisal (such as deprivation of appointment, promotion, or compensation).

§ 6371 Accrual of leave

While using leave made available to an employee from a leave bank, annual and sick leave shall accrue to the credit of such employee and shall become available for use by such employee in the same manner as provided for under section 6337. (Added Pub. L. 100–566, § 2(a) , Oct. 31, 1988 , 102 Stat. 2843 .)

§ 6372 Additional leave bank programs

(a) For the purpose of this section— the term “excepted agency” has the same meaning as such term is defined under section 6339(a)(1) of this title ; and the term “head of an excepted agency” has the same meaning as such term is defined under section 6339(a)(2) of this title .

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (2) and notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, neither an excepted agency nor any individual employed in or under an excepted agency may be included in a leave bank program established under any of the preceding provisions of this subchapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation may authorize an individual employed by the Bureau to participate in a leave bank program administered by the Department of Justice under this subchapter if in the Director’s judgment such participation will not adversely affect the protection of intelligence sources and methods.

(c) The head of an excepted agency may, by regulation, establish a voluntary leave bank program under which annual leave accrued or accumulated by an employee of such agency may be contributed to a leave bank, and any other employee of such agency may receive additional leave from such leave bank because of a medical emergency. To the extent practicable, and consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods (if applicable), each program under this section shall be established in a manner consistent with the provisions of this subchapter applicable to the program.

(d) The Office of Personnel Management shall provide the head of an excepted agency with such advice and assistance as the head of such agency may request in order to carry out the purposes of this section.

§ 6373 Authority to participate in both programs

(a) The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations under which an employee participating in a leave bank program under this subchapter may, subject to such terms or conditions as the Office may establish, also make or receive donations of leave under subchapter III.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of section 6337 or 6371, if an employee uses leave transferred to such employee under subchapter III and leave made available to such employee under this subchapter in connection with the same medical emergency, the maximum number of days of annual leave and sick leave, respectively, which may accrue to such employee in connection with such medical emergency shall be the same as if all of that leave had been made available to such employee under this subchapter.

§ 6381 Definitions

For the purpose of this subchapter— the term “employee” means any individual who— is an “employee”, as defined by section 6301(2), including any individual employed in a position referred to in clause (ix) of section 6301(2), but excluding any individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia 1 any individual employed on a temporary or intermittent basis, and any employee of the Government Accountability Office or the Library of Congress; and has completed at least 12 months of service— as an employee (as that term is defined in section 2105) of the Government of the United States, including service with the United States Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, and a nonappropriated fund instrumentality as described in section 2105(c); or which qualifies as honorable active service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, or Marine Corps of the United States; the term “health care provider” means— a doctor of medicine or osteopathy who is authorized to practice medicine or surgery (as appropriate) by the State in which the doctor practices; and any other person determined by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to be capable of providing health care services; the term “parent” means the biological parent of an employee or an individual who stood in loco parentis to an employee when the employee was a son or daughter; the term “reduced leave schedule” means a leave schedule that reduces the usual number of hours per workweek, or hours per workday, of an employee; the term “serious health condition” means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves— inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility; or continuing treatment by a health care provider; the term “son or daughter” means a biological, adopted, or foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward, or a child of a person standing in loco parentis, who is— under 18 years of age; or 18 years of age or older and incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability; the term “covered active duty” means— in the case of a member of a regular component of the Armed Forces, duty during the deployment of the member with the Armed Forces to a foreign country; and in the case of a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces, duty during the deployment of the member with the Armed Forces to a foreign country under a call or order to active duty under a provision of law referred to in section 101(a)(13)(B) of title 10 , United States Code; the term “covered servicemember” means— a member of the Armed Forces (including a member of the National Guard or Reserves) who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, is otherwise in outpatient status, or is otherwise on the temporary disability retired list, for a serious injury or illness; or a veteran who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, for a serious injury or illness and who was a member of the Armed Forces (including a member of the National Guard or Reserves) at any time during the period of 5 years preceding the date on which the veteran undergoes that medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy; the term “outpatient status”, with respect to a covered servicemember, means the status of a member of the Armed Forces assigned to— a military medical treatment facility as an outpatient; or a unit established for the purpose of providing command and control of members of the Armed Forces receiving medical care as outpatients; the term “next of kin”, used with respect to an individual, means the nearest blood relative of that individual; the term “serious injury or illness”— in the case of a member of the Armed Forces (including a member of the National Guard or Reserves), means an injury or illness that was incurred by the member in line of duty on active duty in the Armed Forces (or existed before the beginning of the member’s active duty and was aggravated by service in line of duty on active duty in the Armed Forces) and that may render the member medically unfit to perform the duties of the member’s office, grade, rank, or rating; and in the case of a veteran who was a member of the Armed Forces (including a member of the National Guard or Reserves) at any time during a period described in paragraph (8)(B), means an injury or illness that was incurred by the member in line of duty on active duty in the Armed Forces (or existed before the beginning of the member’s active duty and was aggravated by service in line of duty on active duty in the Armed Forces) and that manifested itself before or after the member became a veteran; and the term “veteran” has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 38 , United States Code. (Added Pub. L. 103–3, title II, § 201(a)(1) , Feb. 5, 1993 , 107 Stat. 19 ; amended Pub. L. 104–1, title II, § 202(c)(2) , Jan. 23, 1995 , 109 Stat. 9 ; Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b) , July 7, 2004 , 118 Stat. 814 ; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 585(b)(1) , Jan. 28, 2008 , 122 Stat. 131 ; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, § 565(b)(1)(A) , (2), (3), Oct. 28, 2009 , 123 Stat. 2311 , 2312; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XI, § 1103(f)(2) , Jan. 1, 2021 , 134 Stat. 3889 ; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XI, § 1114(a) , Dec. 22, 2023 , 137 Stat. 432 .)

§ 6382 Leave requirement

(a) Subject to section 6383 and subsection (d)(2) of this section, an employee shall be entitled to a total of 12 administrative workweeks of leave during any 12-month period for one or more of the following: Because of the birth of a son or daughter of the employee and in order to care for such son or daughter. Because of the placement of a son or daughter with the employee for adoption or foster care. In order to care for the spouse, or a son, daughter, or parent, of the employee, if such spouse, son, daughter, or parent has a serious health condition. Because of a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of the employee’s position. Because of any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the spouse, or a son, daughter, or parent of the employee is on covered active duty (or has been notified of an impending call or order to covered active duty) in the Armed Forces. The entitlement to leave under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) based on the birth or placement of a son or daughter shall expire at the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date of such birth or placement. Subject to section 6383, an employee who is the spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin of a covered servicemember shall be entitled to a total of 26 administrative workweeks of leave during a 12-month period to care for the servicemember. The leave described in this paragraph shall only be available during a single 12-month period. Subject to subsection (d)(2), during the single 12-month period described in paragraph (3), an employee shall be entitled to a combined total of 26 administrative workweeks of leave under paragraphs (1) and (3). Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the availability of leave under paragraph (1) during any other 12-month period.

(b) Leave under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(1) shall not be taken by an employee intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule unless the employee and the employing agency of the employee agree otherwise. Subject to paragraph (2), subsection (e)(2), and subsection (b)(5) or (f) (as appropriate) of section 6383, leave under subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (a)(1) or under subsection (a)(3) may be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule when medically necessary. Subject to subsection (e)(3) and section 6383(f), leave under subsection (a)(1)(E) may be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule. In the case of an employee who takes leave intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule pursuant to this paragraph, any hours of leave so taken by such employee shall be subtracted from the total amount of leave remaining available to such employee under subsection (a), for purposes of the 12-month period involved, on an hour-for-hour basis. If an employee requests intermittent leave, or leave on a reduced leave schedule, under subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (a)(1) or under subsection (a)(3), that is foreseeable based on planned medical treatment, the employing agency may require such employee to transfer temporarily to an available alternative position offered by the employing agency for which the employee is qualified and that— has equivalent pay and benefits; and better accommodates recurring periods of leave than the regular employment position of the employee.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), leave granted under subsection (a) shall be leave without pay.

(d) An employee may elect to substitute for leave under subparagraph (C), (D), or (E) of subsection (a)(1) any of the employee’s accrued or accumulated annual or sick leave for any part of the 12-week period of leave under such subsection, except that nothing in this subchapter shall require an employing agency to provide paid sick leave in any situation in which such employing agency would not normally provide any such paid leave. An employee may elect to substitute for leave under subsection (a)(3) any of the employee’s accrued or accumulated annual or sick leave for any part of the 26-week period of leave under such subsection. An employee may elect to substitute for any leave without pay under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(1) any paid leave which is available to such employee for that purpose. The paid leave that is available to an employee for purposes of subparagraph (A) is— 12 administrative workweeks of paid parental leave under this subparagraph in connection with the birth or placement involved; and during the 12-month period referred to in subsection (a)(1), and in addition to the 12 administrative workweeks under clause (i), any annual or sick leave accrued or accumulated by such employee. Nothing in this subsection shall be considered to require that an employee first use all or any portion of the leave described in subparagraph (B)(ii) before being allowed to use the paid parental leave described in subparagraph (B)(i). Paid parental leave under subparagraph (B)(i)— shall be payable from any appropriation or fund available for salaries or expenses for positions within the employing agency; shall not be considered to be annual or vacation leave for purposes of section 5551 or 5552 or for any other purpose; and if not used by the employee before the end of the 12-month period (as referred to in subsection (a)(1)) to which it relates, shall not accumulate for any subsequent use. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to modify the requirement to complete at least 12 months of service as an employee (within the meaning of section 6381(1)(A)) before the date of the applicable birth or placement involved to be eligible for paid parental leave under subparagraph (B)(i) of this paragraph. An employee may not take leave under this paragraph unless the employee agrees (in writing), before the commencement of such leave, to work for the applicable employing agency for not less than a period of 12 weeks beginning on the date such leave concludes. The head of the agency shall waive the requirement in clause (i) in any instance where the employee is unable to return to work because of the continuation, recurrence, or onset of a serious health condition (including mental health), related to the applicable birth or placement of a child, of the employee or the child. The head of the employing agency may require that an employee who claims to be unable to return to work because of a health condition described under clause (ii) provide certification supporting such claim by the health care provider of the employee or the child (as the case may be). The employee shall provide such certification to the head in a timely manner. If an employee fails to return from paid leave provided under this paragraph after the date such leave concludes, the employing agency may recover, from such employee, an amount equal to the total amount of Government contributions paid by the agency under section 8906 on behalf of the employee for maintaining such employee’s health coverage under chapter 89 during the period of such leave. Clause (i) shall not apply to any employee who fails to return from such leave due to— the continuation, recurrence, or onset of a serious health condition as described under, and consistent with the requirements of, subparagraph (F); or any other circumstance beyond the control of the employee.

(e) In any case in which the necessity for leave under subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(1) or under subsection (a)(3) is foreseeable based on an expected birth or placement, the employee shall provide the employing agency with not less than 30 days’ notice, before the date the leave is to begin, of the employee’s intention to take leave under such subparagraph, except that if the date of the birth or placement requires leave to begin in less than 30 days, the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable. In any case in which the necessity for leave under subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (a)(1) or under subsection (a)(3) is foreseeable based on planned medical treatment, the employee— shall make a reasonable effort to schedule the treatment so as not to disrupt unduly the operations of the employing agency, subject to the approval of the health care provider of the employee or the health care provider of the son, daughter, spouse, parent, or covered servicemember of the employee, as appropriate; and shall provide the employing agency with not less than 30 days’ notice, before the date the leave is to begin, of the employee’s intention to take leave under such subparagraph, except that if the date of the treatment requires leave to begin in less than 30 days, the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable. In any case in which the necessity for leave under subsection (a)(1)(E) is foreseeable, whether because the spouse, or a son, daughter, or parent, of the employee is on covered active duty, or because of notification of an impending call or order to covered active duty, the employee shall provide such notice to the employer as is reasonable and practicable.

§ 6383 Certification

(a) An employing agency may require that a request for leave under subparagraph (C) or (D) of section 6382(a)(1) be supported by certification issued by the health care provider of the employee or of the son, daughter, spouse, or parent of the employee, as appropriate. The employee shall provide, in a timely manner, a copy of such certification to the employing agency.

(b) A certification provided under subsection (a) shall be sufficient if it states— the date on which the serious health condition commenced; the probable duration of the condition; the appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care provider regarding the condition; for purposes of leave under section 6382(a)(1)(C), a statement that the employee is needed to care for the son, daughter, spouse, or parent, and an estimate of the amount of time that such employee is needed to care for such son, daughter, spouse, or parent; and for purposes of leave under section 6382(a)(1)(D), a statement that the employee is unable to perform the functions of the position of the employee; and in the case of certification for intermittent leave, or leave on a reduced leave schedule, for planned medical treatment, the dates on which such treatment is expected to be given and the duration of such treatment.

(c) In any case in which the employing agency has reason to doubt the validity of the certification provided under subsection (a) for leave under subparagraph (C) or (D) of section 6382(a)(1), the employing agency may require, at the expense of the agency, that the employee obtain the opinion of a second health care provider designated or approved by the employing agency concerning any information certified under subsection (b) for such leave. Any health care provider designated or approved under paragraph (1) shall not be employed on a regular basis by the employing agency.

(d) In any case in which the second opinion described in subsection (c) differs from the original certification provided under subsection (a), the employing agency may require, at the expense of the agency, that the employee obtain the opinion of a third health care provider designated or approved jointly by the employing agency and the employee concerning the information certified under subsection (b). The opinion of the third health care provider concerning the information certified under subsection (b) shall be considered to be final and shall be binding on the employing agency and the employee.

(e) The employing agency may require, at the expense of the agency, that the employee obtain subsequent recertifications on a reasonable basis.

(f) An employing agency may require that a request for leave under paragraph (1)(E) or (3) of section 6382(a) be supported by a certification issued at such time and in such manner as the Office of Personnel Management may by regulation prescribe.

§ 6384 Employment and benefits protection

(a) Any employee who takes leave under section 6382 for the intended purpose of the leave shall be entitled, upon return from such leave— to be restored by the employing agency to the position held by the employee when the leave commenced; or to be restored to an equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay, status, and other terms and conditions of employment.

(b) The taking of leave under section 6382 shall not result in the loss of any employment benefit accrued prior to the date on which the leave commenced.

(c) Except as otherwise provided by or under law, nothing in this section shall be construed to entitle any restored employee to— the accrual of any employment benefits during any period of leave; or any right, benefit, or position of employment other than any right, benefit, or position to which the employee would have been entitled had the employee not taken the leave.

(d) As a condition to restoration under subsection (a) for an employee who takes leave under section 6382(a)(1)(D), the employing agency may have a uniformly applied practice or policy that requires each such employee to receive certification from the health care provider of the employee that the employee is able to resume work.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an employing agency from requiring an employee on leave under section 6382 to report periodically to the employing agency on the status and intention of the employee to return to work.

§ 6385 Prohibition of coercion

(a) An employee shall not directly or indirectly intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other employee for the purpose of interfering with the exercise of any rights which such other employee may have under this subchapter.

(b) For the purpose of this section— the term “intimidate, threaten, or coerce” includes promising to confer or conferring any benefit (such as appointment, promotion, or compensation), or taking or threatening to take any reprisal (such as deprivation of appointment, promotion, or compensation); and the term “employee” means any “employee”, as defined by section 2105.

§ 6386 Health insurance

An employee enrolled in a health benefits plan under chapter 89 who is placed in a leave status under section 6382 may elect to continue the health benefits enrollment of the employee while in such leave status and arrange to pay currently into the Employees Health Benefits Fund (described in section 8909), the appropriate employee contributions. (Added Pub. L. 103–3, title II, § 201(a)(1) , Feb. 5, 1993 , 107 Stat. 23 .)

§ 6387 Regulations

The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this subchapter. The regulations prescribed under this subchapter shall, to the extent appropriate, be consistent with the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Labor to carry out title I of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. (Added Pub. L. 103–3, title II, § 201(a)(1) , Feb. 5, 1993 , 107 Stat. 23 .)

§ 6391 Authority for leave transfer program in disasters and emergencies

(a) For the purpose of this section— “employee” means an employee as defined in section 6331(1); and “agency” means an Executive agency.

(b) In the event of a major disaster or emergency, as declared by the President, that results in severe adverse effects for a substantial number of employees, the President may direct the Office of Personnel Management to establish an emergency leave transfer program under which any employee in any agency may donate unused annual leave for transfer to employees of the same or other agencies who are adversely affected by such disaster or emergency.

(c) The Office shall establish appropriate requirements for the operation of the emergency leave transfer program under subsection (b), including appropriate limitations on the donation and use of annual leave under the program. An employee may receive and use leave under the program without regard to any requirement that any annual leave and sick leave to a leave recipient’s credit must be exhausted before any transferred annual leave may be used.

(d) A leave bank established under subchapter IV may, to the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the Office, donate annual leave to the emergency leave transfer program established under subsection (b).

(e) Except to the extent that the Office may prescribe by regulation, nothing in section 7351 shall apply to any solicitation, donation, or acceptance of leave under this section.

(f) After consultation with the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Office of Personnel Management shall provide for the participation of employees in the judicial branch in any emergency leave transfer program under this section.

(g) The Office shall prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this section.