37-5. Short-Term Disability Leave

Effective January 1, 2013, the BOARD shall establish a short-term disability and paid maternity leave plan for employees at no cost to employees who are eligible for health care benefits.

37-5.1. Benefits

The short-term disability policy shall provide disability benefits for employee illness in excess of ten consecutive days (including maternity leave days) as follows: (a) one hundred percent of the employee’s regular full-time pay for the first thirty calendar days of the employee’s disability and/or maternity leave; (b) eighty percent of the employee’s regular full-time pay for calendar days thirty-one through sixty of the employee’s disability and/or maternity leave; and, (c) sixty percent of the employee’s regular full-time pay for calendar days sixty-one through ninety of the employee’s disability and/or maternity leave.

37-5.2. Eligibility for Short-Term Disability and Paid Maternity Leave Benefits

Employees are eligible for short-term disability if they satisfy the following requirements: (a) they have been employed for at least sixty calendar days; (b) they have not exhausted ninety paid calendar days of short-term disability or maternity leave in the preceding twelve-month period; (c) they have exhausted all sick days allotted for the year; (d) they have submitted a qualifying medical certification of their disability or maternity; (e) they are not receiving worker’s compensation, victims of violence leave or long-term disability benefits for the disability; and (f) they satisfy any other eligibility requirements to qualify for the benefit approved by the LMCC, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

37-5.3. Employee Benefits During Paid Short-Term Disability Leave

Employees on short-term disability leave may continue their employee benefits [e.g., health, dental, life, or 403(b)] on the same terms as if they were actively employed. Deductions shall be made from short-term disability payments for those benefits.

37-5.4. Coordination with FMLA and Supplemental FMLA Leaves of Absence

Short-term disability leaves and any period of sick leave used immediately preceding the short-term disability leave period run in parallel with qualifying FMLA leaves of absence. Time spent on a short-term disability leave of absence shall count towards the maximum number of days or weeks of FMLA or Supplemental FMLA leaves of absence.