PAX Centurion - Summer 2014

Page 12 • PAX CENTURION • Summer 2014 617-989-BPPA (2772) Comm. Evans halts By James W. Carnell, Pax Editor C ommissionerWilliam Evans has halted attempts on behalf of administration bureaucrats to unilaterally change long-standing rules and regulations regard- ing the State law governing use of SNLA (Small Necessities LeaveAct) and existing practices covering vacation leave. The Small Necessities LeaveAct (SNLA) provides up to 24 hours of unpaid leave under Massachusetts General Laws for the purposes of: 1. participating in school activities related to the educa- tional advancement of an employee’s son or daughter, such as parent-teacher conferences or interviewing for a new school 2. to accompany a son or daughter to routine medical or dental appointments 3. to accompany an elderly relative to routine medical or dental appointments or other services related to the elder’s care. SNLA leave allows an employee to use accrued sick time in 2-hour time increments, or in whatever blocks of time (4 hrs.? 8 hrs.?) are needed to attend to the purpose of taking care of children or elderly family members. On Nov. 17 th , 1998, the department released a special order regarding the SNLA which included a simple form for employees to use to report the use of SNLA time. The form specifically was in both the present tense and past tense: in other words, it specifically said “I will take… did take…” ___hours of leave…. (see sample old/new forms) Often times, as we all know, medical conditions or situations arise which are not foreseeable: Mom, Dad, Uncle Frank or situations with the