Sick Leave Pool

The sick leave pool was designed by the Texas Legislature to provide a source of additional sick leave to eligible employees who have exhausted all other paid leave entitlements and will suffer a loss of compensation because either they or their immediately family member(s) have suffered a catastrophic illness or injury.

Eligibility

The employee or a member of his or her immediately family must be suffering from a catastrophic illness or injury. A catastrophic illness or injury is a severe condition or combination of conditions affecting the mental or physical health of an employee or the employee’s immediate family that requires the services of a licensed practitioner for a prolonged period of time and that requires the employee to exhaust all leave time earned and lose compensation from the state.

Application Requirements

An employee is eligible to apply for sick leave pool hours when all of the following conditions are satisfied:

• The employee or a member of his or her immediately family has a severe condition or combination of conditions that requires the prolonged care of a licensed practitioner;
• The employee has exhausted all sick leave because of the condition;
• The employee has exhausted all paid leave time including compensatory time;
• The employee has NOT exhausted the maximum amount of sick leave pool allowed per catastrophic illness or injury; and
• The employee’s condition is not an on-the-job injury covered by Workers’ Compensation Insurance.

Withdrawal from the Sick Leave Pool

• Employees who are awarded sick leave pool hours are eligible for up to 720 hours per condition or 1/3 of the sick leave pool balance, whichever is less.
• Employees who are awarded sick leave pool hours complete staff absence reports, timecards (if applicable) and receive a paycheck in the same manner as when receiving sick leave.

Awaiting a Sick Leave Pool Decision

Employees who have exhausted all accrued and available leave time must be placed on a Leave without Pay pending the decision of the Sick Leave Pool Administrator. In other words, employees are not allowed to carry a negative leave balance. Departments are responsible for placing the employee on Leave without Pay when it becomes necessary.

Contributions to the Sick Leave Pool

• Employees may contribute an unlimited number of hours to the sick leave pool provided that the contribution will not cause the donor’s balance to drop below fifty (50) hours. Contributions to the pool must be in units of eight (8) hours.
• Employees terminating or retiring may donate their entire accrued sick leave balance.*
  
  * Note: Employees who elect this option should carefully consider their decision. If an employee returns to employment with the State of Texas or a Texas Institution of higher education within 12 months from the date the employee left UT, they are eligible to have their sick leave balances transferred to their new place of employment.

Applications and additional information

The Sick Leave Pool Administrator, together with the Benefits Office and the employee’s supervisor, will determine how many hours the employee will be awarded from the Sick Leave Pool if eligible. The employee must notify his/her supervisor when requesting hours from the Sick Leave Pool.

To request a Sick Leave Pool application, a donation form, or additional information, please call Human Resources at (956) 882-8205. The application and donation form can be found at the top left side of this page.