(a) Eligibility. A sworn member of the fire department or police department, or an emergency medical technician or detention officer as defined in this section, who is ordered to quarantine or isolate by the employee's supervisor or the city's health authority due to a possible or known exposure to a communicable disease while on duty, is eligible to receive paid quarantine leave for the duration of the ordered quarantine or isolation.
(b) Definitions. In this section:
(1) DETENTION OFFICER means an individual employed by the city, and whose job responsibilities include the care and custody of individuals incarcerated in the city's municipal jail.
(2) EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN means an individual who is employed by the city and certified as an emergency medical technician in accordance with Chapter 773 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
(3) HEALTH AUTHORITY means a physician appointed by the city to administer state and local laws relating to public health within the city's jurisdiction.
(c) Entitlements. Eligible employees under this section who are required to quarantine or isolate by their supervisor or the city's health authority due to a possible or known exposure to a communicable disease while on duty are entitled to receive:
(1) all employment benefits and compensation, including leave accrual, pension benefits, and health benefit plan benefits provided by the city; and
(2) if applicable, reimbursement for reasonable costs related to the quarantine, including lodging, medical, and transportation costs.
(d) Effect on leave balances. The city will not reduce an eligible employee's sick leave balance, vacation leave balance, holiday leave balance, or other paid leave balance in connection with paid quarantine leave taken in accordance with this section.
(e) Reimbursements. An employee may be required to provide receipts or proof of payment with a request for reimbursement of expenses and may be denied reimbursement for any expenses that the city deems unreasonable or unrelated to quarantine. (Ord. 32035)