Page 200 - An Indispensible Resource for Being a Credible Activist

private employees, including, but not limited to, appropriate policy and legislative initia-
tives. The State Code was amended in order to redefine the term “telecommuting.” It is now
defined as “a work arrangement in which supervisors direct or permit employees to perform
their usual job duties away from their central workplaces at least 1 day per week and in
accordance with work agreements.” The State Code relating to State agency employee com-
muting policies was amended. The State has now set a goal to have each State agency, with
the exception of the Department of State Police, have not less than 20 percent of its eligible
workforce telecommuting by January 1, 2010.
Worker privacy. Legislation was enacted that added a Freedom of Information Act
exemption for investigator notes and for other correspondence and information with respect
to an active investigation conducted by or for the State Board of Education and related to
the denial, suspension, or revocation of teaching licenses. The legislation does not prohibit
the disclosure of records to a local school board or division superintendent for the purpose
of permitting such board or superintendent to consider or to take personnel action with
regard to the employee. Records of completed investigations shall be disclosed in a form that
does not reveal the identity of charging parties, persons supplying the information, or other
individuals involved in the investigation. If an investigation fails to support a complaint or
does not lead to corrective action, the identity of the person who was the subject of the com-
plaint may be released only with the consent of that person.

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Minimum wage. As a result of legislation enacted in a previous year in which the State min-
imum wage was indexed to inflation, the State minimum wage was increased to $8.55 per
hour on January 1, 2009.
Time off. The State Revised Code allowing unpaid leaves of absence for the needs of
military personnel was amended. Every employee of the State or of any county, city, or other
political subdivision thereof who is a member of the State National Guard; of the Army,
Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps Reserve of the United States; or of any organ-
ized Reserve or Armed Forces of the United States shall be entitled to, and shall be granted,
military leave of absence from his or her employment for a period not exceeding 21 days
during each year, beginning October 1 and ending September 30. Such military leave of
absence shall be in addition to any vacation or sick leave to which the employee might oth-
erwise be entitled and shall not involve any loss of efficiency rating, privileges, or pay.
During the period of military leave, the employee shall receive his or her normal pay from
the State, county, city, or other political subdivision.
Workplace violence. The State Revised Code relating to increasing the safety and eco-
nomic security of victims of acts of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking was
amended. An employee may now take reasonable leave from work, intermittent leave, or
leave on a reduced leave schedule, with or without pay, to (1) seek legal or law enforcement
assistance, including, but not limited to, preparing for or participating in any civil or crimi-
nal legal proceeding related to or derived from the aforementioned acts, in order to ensure
the health and safety of the employee or the employee’s family members; (2) seek treatment

CHAPTER 11 • Different Laws in Different States 183