Governor Schweitzer Message To State Employees
Hurricane Katrina and Employee Paid Leave To Aid In Disaster Relief Efforts
To all my colleagues in state government
As you know, the situation in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as a result of Hurricane Katrina defies description. Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow Americans at this difficult time. Many are eager to help and I want to remind you of the Montana statute that provides state employees 15 days of paid leave to participate in specialized disaster relief efforts for the American Red Cross. The statute, MCA 2-18-627, http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/2/18/2-18-627.htm, provides that any employee requesting this disaster leave must be a certified Red Cross disaster relief volunteer, the employee's services must be requested by the Red Cross, and the employee's agency must approve the leave request. This leave is not charged against any other leave to which the employee is entitled.
ARM (Administrative Rule) 2.21.312 http://arm.sos.state.mt.us/2/2-629.htm requires employees to obtain their supervisor's approval and requires employees include verification of the request from the Red Cross when they apply for leave. Therefore, if your services are requested by the Red Cross, please obtain permission from your supervisor and provide the verification. Your supervisor will then coordinate your leave with your agency's personnel/human resources office. I have encouraged Department Directors to provide the maximum flexibility to support state employee volunteer efforts while also ensuring the timely and efficient delivery of state services.
In order to expedite communication between the Red Cross and state employees who wish to volunteer for training and assignment, I have asked my Citizens' Advocate Office to act as a clearing house. Please go to the Citizens' Advocate web page: http://citizensadvocate.mt.gov/ and either use the comment form or call: 406-444-3468 or 800-922-2873 to let the Citizens' Advocate staff know you wish to volunteer or need further information. Citizens' Advocate staff will communicate state employees' interests and questions to the Red Cross and generally serve as a liaison between you and the Red Cross. A brief orientation session for state employees in Helena will be held Friday, September 2, 2005 in the DPHHS Auditorium at 111 Sanders from noon to 1:00pm. Many of your questions can be answered at that time.
Many of us are unable to participate in this effort in such a direct way, but please join your friends and neighbors by sending desperately needed financial donations to the Red Cross or other disaster relief organizations with which you may be familiar. This relief effort will require the commitment of massive resources, public and private. Our neighbors are in desperate need and our Montana tradition of generosity can make a difference. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-HELP-NOW to Contribute. Helena employees can drop off contributions at the Red Cross office at 805 N. Main Street in Helena, employees in Butte, Bozeman, Billings, Kalispell, Missoula and Great Falls can also make contributions at their local Red Cross Office.
You should know that Montana's National Guard and our Disaster and Emergency Services Division are working with their colleagues around the country to ensure appropriate resources and services are delivered to the affected areas expeditiously. The Emergency Management Assistance Compact is designed to organize states across the country to respond effectively to this kind of event. As news from these agencies becomes available I will add it to my website.
Thank You.
BRIAN SCHWEITZER
Governor
