(a) Notwithstanding the time limits described in section 599.937 of these regulations, upon the determination of the Department, the Department may implement a Personal Leave program. The Department shall determine the duration of each Personal Leave program.

(b) The definition of excluded employee as described in subsections 599.937(a)(1) and (a)(2) of these regulations shall be the same for each Personal Leave program.

(c) Each full-time employee identified by the Department as eligible shall have a reduction in pay and will be credited with the proportionate number of hours of personal leave as designated by the Department for each month in a Personal Leave program. Participation in a Personal Leave program shall not affect an employee's salary range or rate; however, each full-time employee shall continue to work his/her assigned work schedule and the employee shall have a reduction in pay, comparable to the personal leave hours of credit, for each pay period the employee is in a Personal Leave program. The reduction in salary shall not affect the employee's benefits, including retirement contributions.

(d) The Personal Leave program shall have no cash value and may not be cashed out. Employees have until separation from state service to use all personal leave hours.

(e) The provisions described in subsections 599.937(c), (e), (f), (g), (h), (k), and (l) of these regulations shall apply to excluded employees in a Personal Leave program.

(f) Part-time and intermittent employees shall be subject to the same conditions as stated above and will receive credit on a prorated basis. The Department shall provide for each Personal Leave program the number of hours intermittent and part-time employees shall receive based on how many hours they work in a month.

(g) Employees shall remain in a Personal Leave program until the Department terminates the program. Personal leave credit for the salary reduction shall be granted to the employee on a month-for-month basis on the date a Personal Leave program becomes applicable to the employee.