(a) Short-term paid Public Safety Bridge Leave may be authorized by the Chief of Police/Fire Chief or their designee to permanent commissioned employees of the police and fire departments for up to 30 consecutive calendar days with a maximum of three 30-calendar day extensions under the following circumstances:
(1) The permanent commissioned public safety employee is deemed unfit for duty by a licensed mental health provider due to exposure to traumatic event(s) as defined in A.R.S. § 38-673 during their employment as a permanent commissioned employee with the Tucson Police Department or the Tucson Fire Department; and
(2) The permanent commissioned public safety employee has applied for Worker's Compensation benefits for the specific event(s) the employee was deemed Not Fit for Duty under the Worker's Compensation Act, A.R.S. § 23-1043.01 and is awaiting final disposition of that claim; and
(3) The permanent commissioned public safety employee has exhausted all Sick Leave, Earned Paid Sick Time, Vacation Leave, Compensatory Time, Donated Leave, or any other leave provided as part of the permanent commissioned public safety employee's benefits package.
(b) If the permanent commissioned public safety employee's Worker's Compensation claim is accepted, the employee will be appropriately compensated under the Worker's Compensation Act. Public Safety Bridge Leave will be immediately terminated and the employee must repay all compensation received while on Public Safety Bridge Leave. If the Worker's Compensation claim is denied, the Public Safety Bridge Leave is immediately terminated and the employee's status changed to the appropriate leave without pay designation.
(Ord. No. 11642, § 1, 4-23-19)