HF4528

Purpose

• The bill aims to set up paid blood donation leave for state employees, allowing them to take time off with full pay to donate blood at a location away from their work site.

Main Provisions

• Pay and duration: A state employee may take leave to donate blood with 100 percent pay.
• Time limit: The total leave used under this provision may not exceed three hours in a 12-month period.
• Scheduling: Employees must provide 14 days' notice to their appointing authority before taking the leave.
• Non-disruptive: This leave must not affect other leave balances or benefits, such as vacation, pension, compensatory time, personal days, sick leave, overtime, or seniority.
• Scope/definition: The section defines “state employee” and, as written, excludes employees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MSCU).
• Statutory change: The bill would amend Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 43A.187 to establish this blood donation leave framework under the law.

How this changes existing law

• The bill creates a specific paid leave benefit for donating blood for state employees, including a clear pay and time limit, notice requirement, and protections regarding other leave and seniority.
• However, in the text provided, employees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are explicitly not included within the scope of this section, which means the expansion to MSCU employees is not realized in the current language. The stated purpose mentions expanding eligibility to MSCU, but the actual provision shown excludes MSCU employees.

Significant changes and considerations

• Introduces paid, short-term leave specifically for blood donation, with full pay and a 3-hour annual cap.
• Adds a notice requirement (14 days) for planning the leave.
• Ensures blood donation leave does not reduce or alter other leave accruals or seniority.
• Creates an inconsistency between the stated goal (include MSCU employees) and the text (excludes MSCU employees from this provision), which may require clarifying amendment.

Practical impact (for employees and agencies)

• For state employees (excluding MSCU under this section): clearer access to paid time to donate blood, with predictable pay and protection of other benefits.
• For agencies: a simple administrative process to approve up to 3 hours of paid leave per employee per year, with advance notice requirements.
• For MSCU employees: current text does not grant this benefit, despite the stated aim—this may limit eligibility unless further changes are added.

Effective date

• Not stated in the provided excerpt.

Relevant Terms - paid blood donation leave - state employee - 100 percent of pay - three hours in a 12-month period - 14 days notice - appointing authority - vacation leave - pension - compensatory time - personal vacation days - sick leave - overtime - accumulation - seniority - Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MSCU) - Minnesota Statutes 2024 - section 43A.187 - blood donation leave (BLOOD DONATION LEAVE)