3.69.020 Permissible Uses of Humanitarian Catastrophic Leave.
Subject to the limitation of available hours in the employee's Humanitarian Catastrophic Leave bank, leave drawn from the humanitarian catastrophic leave bank shall be paid, in accordance with these regulations at the employee's regular straight time base rate of pay for the following conditions:
A. A catastrophic medical condition, illness or injury which incapacitates the employee from performing their work; or
B. Absence for medical or dental care directly related to a catastrophic medical condition, illness or injury; or
C. Absence because of catastrophic medical condition, illness or injury to those relatives living with and dependent upon the employee.
D. Definitions.
1. "Catastrophic medical condition, illness or injury" shall be defined as:
A physician certified death eminent case or a medical condition, illness, or injury which is of an extraordinary or severe nature, which requires a physician's ongoing care, and which has caused, or is likely to cause, the employee to: (a) be incapacitated and unable to work in excess of five working days; or (b) otherwise be required to terminate County employment due solely to the absence of any available leave. Notwithstanding the above, Catastrophic leave will not be approved if, based on the physician's certification and consideration of the employee's condition, the employee is not expected to return to County employment.
2. "Relatives living with and dependent upon the employee" means an employee's spouse with whom the employee resides and those persons listed and approved as dependents on the employee's medical insurance beneficiary designation form at the time of application for benefits under this Section.
E. Abuse and misuse of catastrophic leave are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including discharge. The employee is required to keep the employer informed of any changes in medical status and/or limitations. The employer has the right at any time to require the employee to provide certification from a physician attesting to such medical condition, illness or injury.