§ 21-4-106 - Leave of absence for participation in the Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program.
21-4-106. Leave of absence for participation in the Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Agency" means a department, agency, bureau, including the Bureau of Legislative Research, board, or commission of any branch of state government;
(2) "Employee" means a full-time employee of the State of Arkansas or any branch, department, agency, board, bureau, including the Bureau of Legislative Research, or commission of any branch of state government; and
(3) "Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program" means the incentive program of the Department of Health that will reward regular exercise, good nutrition, and other healthy lifestyle choices;
(b) (1) Upon completion of a pilot program to be conducted by the department, the department shall:
(A) Make the Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program available to all agency directors; and
(B) Assist the agencies in the Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program's implementation.
(2) Upon completion of the pilot program, every agency director shall consider making the Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program available to the agency's employees.
(c) (1) At the discretion of the agency director, an employee may be granted paid leave of up to three (3) days per calendar year for satisfactory compliance with the Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program.
(2) The leave shall be used in the calendar year in which it was granted.
(3) The leave is not compensable at termination.
(d) Each agency shall identify and maintain, if practicable, in or near each agency building an area or areas that employees may use for walking exercise.