§1–208.

    (a)    This section applies to all employees of a governmental unit of a county or a municipality in the State.

    (b)    Subject to subsections (c) through (e) of this section, each governmental unit may provide disaster service leave with pay to employees subject to this section.

    (c)    On request, an employee subject to this section may be entitled to disaster service leave with pay if:

        (1)    (i)    the employee is certified by the American Red Cross as a disaster service volunteer; and

            (ii)    the American Red Cross requests the services of the employee during a disaster that is designated at Level II or above in the regulations and procedures of the National Office of the American Red Cross; or

        (2)    the employee is a member of:

            (i)    the Civil Air Patrol;

            (ii)    the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary;

            (iii)    Maryland Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster;

            (iv)    a volunteer emergency medical services department;

            (v)    a volunteer fire department;

            (vi)    a volunteer rescue company or volunteer rescue squad; or

            (vii)    a Community Emergency Response Team.

    (d)    An employee may use up to 30 days of disaster service leave in any 12–month period only after obtaining approval from the employee’s governmental unit.

    (e)    During a prolonged or recurrent disaster, the employee’s governmental unit may:

        (1)    waive the requirements under subsections (c) and (d) of this section that an employee must request and obtain approval before the employee may use disaster service leave, if waiving the requirement would be in the best interest of the citizens of the county or municipality; and

        (2)    increase the number of days of disaster service leave under subsection (d) of this section that an employee may use, if an increase in leave would be in the best interest of the citizens of the county or municipality.