Friday, September 16, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Governor Blunt Authorizes Leave for Additional Volunteers
JEFFERSON CITY—Today Gov. Matt Blunt signed Executive Order 05-32 authorizing paid leave for qualified state employees participating in specialized disaster relief services for the American Red Cross in assisting evacuees who have been relocated to Missouri.
"We must continue to do all we can to assist the thousands of displaced Americans seeking shelter and comfort here in the show me state," Blunt said. "I commend our state employees who volunteer their time and talents for this important effort and am thankful that we are able to offer them paid leave as they represent all of us as they help those in need."
State statute allows up to 25 state employees who have been certified by the American Red Cross as disaster service volunteers to be granted leave from work with pay for up to a total of one hundred twenty work hours per each employee in any fiscal year. In addition, the statute gives the governor authority to extend the paid leave to 25 additional employees. Today’s order extends the paid leave to include as many state employees as possible.
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