A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 54-06-14 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to sick leave for state employees.
HB 1606 would amend North Dakota law governing annual leave and sick leave for state employees under section 54-06-14 of the Century Code. The bill keeps the existing framework for leave accrual and payout, but changes the minimum sick leave accrual rate from one working day per month to ten hours per month for eligible permanent state employees not working under a written contract. The bill also retains the existing maximum accrual range, the requirement that leave be set by agency rules, and the lump-sum payout for unused sick leave for employees with at least ten continuous years of state service.
The measure also preserves and restates the rules for determining continuous service, including reinstatement after a reduction in force and certain unpaid voluntary leaves for education or other reasons. It continues to require the last employing agency, unit, or entity to pay the sick leave payout from appropriated salary and wage funds, and it keeps the obligation for agencies to adopt and file leave rules with the Office of Management and Budget. In practical terms, the bill would adjust how sick leave is accrued for state employees while leaving the overall state leave administration structure in place.
If enacted, HB 1606 would directly amend section 54-06-14 of the North Dakota Century Code and change the sick leave accrual standard for permanent state employees covered by the statute. The bill would affect state agencies, units, and entities that employ covered workers by requiring them to apply the revised accrual language in their leave policies and rules, while continuing existing payout and administration requirements for unused sick leave.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded vote details, so there is no direct evidence of debate or support levels in the materials provided. The bill ultimately failed on February 19, 2025, which indicates it did not advance, but the context does not show whether the failure reflected opposition to the policy change, procedural issues, or other legislative priorities.
The main policy issue appears to be the change in sick leave accrual from a day-based minimum to a ten-hour minimum per month, which could alter how state employee benefits are calculated and administered. Potential points of contention would likely involve employee compensation and benefit adequacy, administrative consistency across agencies, and any fiscal impact on state payroll and leave liabilities. However, the provided materials do not identify specific legislators, agencies, unions, or other stakeholders taking positions on the bill.