In the 1990s, the Minnesota Legislature created two "Vacation Donation" programs. These programs were designed to help critically ill state employees who are burdened with excessively high medical bills, and critically ill employees who have used up all sick and vacation time due to their illness. The Legislature authorized the Minnesota Management & Budget to administer these programs.

Administrative Policies & Statute

Guidelines to assist in determining a "Life Threatening Condition"

Forms

The first program was created in 1990 under M.S. 43A.181. Its purpose is to provide for payment of unreimbursed medical costs in excess of $10,000. Rather than providing a direct appropriation for this purpose, the program allows all state employees to donate up to twelve hours of accrued vacation leave each fiscal year, which is converted to monetary value and placed in an account established for the benefit of critically ill employees who have applied to receive assistance through the program. The accounts established under this program are administered and controlled by MMB.

The second program was created in 1996 under M.S. 43A.1815. This program was created to assist state employees who have used all of their available sick and vacation leave due to a severe illness. The program allows all state employees to donate up to forty hours of accrued vacation leave each fiscal year, to be converted to sick leave that may be used by one or more critically ill state employees who have applied to receive assistance through the program. MMB is authorized to establish administrative procedures for this program, including development of eligibility criteria.

For information about how state employees may donate a portion of their vacation time to help fellow state employees, call Nancy K. Erickson, at 651-259-3625.