SF4629

Purpose

• The bill relates to labor policy and aims to modify rules on paid blood donation leave. It intends to expand eligibility to employees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (now commonly referred to as MSU). However, the text of the amendment provided states that, for the purposes of this section, a “state employee” does not include an employee of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. This creates a conflict between the stated goal (expanding eligibility to MSU employees) and the actual language (excluding MSU employees from eligibility).

Main Provisions

• Leave entitlement: A state employee is entitled to leave with 100 percent of pay to donate blood at a location away from the place of work.
• Cap: The total amount of leave used under this section may not exceed three hours in a 12-month period, and the employee decides how to use it within that limit.
• Notice: An employee seeking this leave must provide 14 days notice to the appointing authority.
• Non-interference with other leave/seniority: This leave must not affect the employee’s vacation leave, pension, compensatory time, personal vacation days, sick leave, earned overtime, accumulation, or seniority.
• Definition issue: For the purposes of this section, the statute defines “state employee” as not including an employee of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MSU). This means MSU employees would not be covered by the leave provisions in this section under the language shown.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Statutory amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 43A.187 (Blood Donation Leave) to establish the paid blood donation leave framework (100% pay, up to 3 hours per 12 months, 14-day notice, no impact on other leave/seniority).
• Creates an inconsistency by stating MSU employees are not considered “state employees” for purposes of this section, which would exclude MSU employees from receiving the leave despite the bill’s stated aim to include them.

Observations

• If enacted as written, the bill’s language would undermine its stated purpose by excluding MSU employees from eligibility. The final enacted version would need to resolve this drafting inconsistency to reflect the intended coverage.

Relevant Terms - blood donation leave - paid leave - 100 percent of pay - three hours - 12-month period - notice (14 days) - appointing authority - state employee - Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MSU) - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 43A.187 - leave types: vacation leave, pension, compensatory time, personal vacation days, sick leave, overtime, seniority - away from work