§ 18A:30-4 — Sick leave, physician's certificate, requirements; definitions.

18A:30-4. a. In case of sick leave claimed due to personal illness or injury, a board of education may require a physician's certificate to be filed with the secretary of the board of education in order to obtain sick leave. b. If an employee's need to use sick leave as defined pursuant to N.J.S.18A:30-1 is foreseeable, a board of education may require advance notice, not to exceed seven calendar days prior to the date the leave is to begin, of the intention to use the leave and its expected duration, and the employee shall make a reasonable effort to schedule the use of sick leave in a manner that does not unduly disrupt the operations of the board of education. c. If the reason for the leave is not foreseeable, a board of education may require an employee to give notice of the intention as soon as practicable, if the board of education has notified the employee of this requirement. d. A board of education may prohibit employees from using foreseeable sick leave on certain dates, and require reasonable documentation if sick leave that is not foreseeable is used during those dates. e. In case of sick leave claimed for three or more consecutive days, a board of education may require reasonable documentation that the leave is being taken for a purpose permitted pursuant to subsection a. of N.J.S.18A:30-1. f. If the leave is permitted under paragraph (2) or (3) of subsection a. of N.J.S.18A:30-1, documentation signed by a health care professional who is treating the employee or the family member of the employee indicating the need for the leave and, if possible, number of days of leave, shall be considered reasonable documentation. g. If the leave is permitted under paragraph (4) of subsection a. of N.J.S.18A:30-1 because of domestic or sexual violence, any of the following shall be considered reasonable documentation of the domestic or sexual violence: (1) medical documentation; (2) a law enforcement agency record or report; (3) a court order; (4) documentation that the perpetrator of the domestic or sexual violence has been convicted of a domestic or sexual violence offense; (5) certification from a certified Domestic Violence Specialist or a representative of a designated domestic violence agency or other victim services organization; or (6) other documentation or certification provided by a social worker, counselor, member of the clergy, shelter worker, health care professional, attorney, or other professional who has assisted the employee or family member in dealing with the domestic or sexual violence. h. If the leave is permitted under paragraph (7) of subsection a. of N.J.S.18A:30-1, a copy of the order of the public official or the determination by the health authority shall be considered reasonable documentation. i. As used in this section: "Certified Domestic Violence Specialist" means a person who has fulfilled the requirements of certification as a Domestic Violence Specialist established by the New Jersey Association of Domestic Violence Professionals. "Designated domestic violence agency" means a county-wide organization whose primary purpose is to provide services to victims of domestic violence, and which provides services that conform to the core domestic violence services profile as defined by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families and is under contract with the division for the express purpose of providing these services. "Health care professional" means any person licensed under federal, State, or local law, or the laws of a foreign nation, to provide health care services, or any other person who has been authorized to provide health care by a licensed health care professional including, but not limited to, doctors, nurses and emergency room personnel. L.1967, c.271; amended 2023, c.95, s.2.