MS HB549

State employees earning $30,000 or more annually must take either one work week of unpaid furlough leave, or two work weeks at half the regular working hours, during fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011)

Employees on furlough leave cannot accrue personal leave, major medical leave, or compensatory leave, and cannot substitute any accrued leave in place of the required furlough

Group health and life insurance benefits funded by the state will continue during furlough leave for employees who remain eligible under the State and School Employees Life and Health Insurance Plan

The timing of furlough leave will be determined by agency heads or their designees in consultation with affected employees, with part-time employees taking a proportionate number of furlough hours

Employees separated from employment due to furlough or other curtailment of funds are exempt from the standard dismissal hearing and notice requirements under state personnel rules