An employee of a State agency who is a certified disaster service volunteer of the American Red Cross or assigned to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in accordance with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact Act, or other applicable administrative rules may be granted leave from his work with pay for not more than 20 working days in any 12-month period to participate in specialized disaster relief services for the American Red Cross or for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, as the case may be, upon the request of the American Red Cross or the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for the services of that employee and upon the approval of that employee’s agency, without loss of seniority, pay, vacation time, compensatory time, personal days, sick time or earned overtime accumulation. The agency shall compensate an employee granted leave under this Section at his regular rate of pay for those regular work hours during which the employee is absent from his work. For purposes of assessing State disaster response needs, requests made pursuant to this Act for services out-of-state shall be coordinated by the American Red Cross and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency through the Illinois State Emergency Operations Center. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency may consult with the Department of Central Management Services on leave issues that could impact the operations of State agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction. Leave under this Act shall not be unreasonably denied for services related to a disaster within the United States or its territories.