HB 153 is an Act relating to leave for certain state employees. Currently there are no provisions in state law providing for a maximum amount of annual leave that may accumulate for state employees not covered by a bargaining unit. General government bargaining unit (GGU) employees, with the exception of correctional officers currently have a 60-day cap on accumulated annual leave.

HB 153 brings parity to annual leave policy for state employees, while limiting the financial burden placed on the State for cash-in liabilities when an employee retires or is separated from service with the state. The bill caps annual leave at 450 hours. On June 30,1998, under the current policy for unlimited accumulation of annual leave, the value of that leave was $96.5 million.

This legislation also repeals AS 39.20.245, Donation of Leave. The statute provides for employee to donate one or more days to one of several scholarship accounts or to another employee's sick leave account. While I have no problem with people having flexibility in the way they spend their leave time, I think it is more appropriate for employees to cash-in their leave and distribute it they way the wish.