§ 175 — COVID-19 paid administrative leave

(a) In this Section: "Employee" means a person employed by the University on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. "Fully vaccinated against COVID-19" means: (1) 2 weeks after receiving the second dose in a 2-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; or (2) 2 weeks after receiving a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. "Fully vaccinated against COVID-19" also includes any recommended booster doses for which the individual is eligible upon the adoption by the Department of Public Health of any changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" to include any such booster doses. For purposes of this Section, individuals who are eligible for a booster dose but have not received a booster dose by 5 weeks after the Department of Public Health adopts a revised definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" are not considered fully vaccinated for determining eligibility for future paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section. (b) During any time when the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act and the University, the State or any of its agencies, or a local public health department has issued guidance, mandates, or rules related to COVID-19 that restrict an employee of the University from being on University property because the employee (i) has a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a molecular amplification diagnostic test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19, (ii) has a probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test, (iii) has been in close contact with a person who had a confirmed case of COVID-19 and is required to be excluded from the University, or (iv) is required by University policy to be excluded from University property due to COVID-19 symptoms, the employee of the University shall receive as many days of administrative leave as required to abide by the public health guidance, mandates, and requirements issued by the Department of Public Health, unless a longer period of paid administrative leave has been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative if any. Such leave shall be provided to an employee for any days for which the employee was required to be excluded from University property prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, provided that the employee receives all doses required to meet the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" under this Section no later than 5 weeks after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. (c) An employee of the University shall receive paid administrative leave pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section, unless a longer period of paid administrative leave has been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative if any, to care for a child of the employee if the child is unable to attend elementary or secondary school because the child: (1) has a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a molecular amplification diagnostic test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19; (2) has probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test; (3) was in close contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 and is required to be excluded from school; or (4) was required by school or school district policy to be excluded from school district property due to COVID-19 symptoms. Such leave shall be provided to an employee for any days needed to care for a child of the employee prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, provided that the employee receives the doses required to meet the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" under this Section no later than 5 weeks after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. (d) An employee of the University who is on paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section must provide all documentation requested by the University. (e) An employee of the University who is on paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section shall receive the employee's regular rate of pay. The use of a paid administrative leave day or days by an employee pursuant to this Section may not diminish any other leave or benefits of the employee. (f) An employee of the University may not accrue paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section. (g) For an employee of the University to be eligible to receive paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section, the employee must: (1) have received all doses required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19; and (2) participate in the COVID-19 testing program adopted by the University to the extent such a testing program requires participation by individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (h) Nothing in this Section is intended to affect any right or remedy under federal law. (i) No paid administrative leave awarded to or used by a fully vaccinated employee prior to the Department of Public Health's adoption of a revised definition of the term "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" may be rescinded on the basis that the employee no longer meets the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" based on the revised definition.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 102-697, eff. 4-5-22.)