State employees shall be allowed up to 24 hours of paid leave in any calendar year, in addition to other paid leave, to serve with a volunteer fire department or volunteer emergency medical services agency or auxiliary unit thereof that has been recognized in accordance with § 15.2-955 by an ordinance or resolution of the political subdivision where the volunteer fire department or volunteer emergency medical services agency is located as being a part of the safety program of such political subdivision. The Department shall develop personnel policies providing for the use of such leave. For the purposes of this section, “state employee” means any person who is regularly employed full time on a salaried basis, whose tenure is not restricted as to temporary or provisional appointment, in the service of, and whose compensation is payable, no more often than biweekly, in whole or in part, by the Commonwealth or any department, institution, or agency thereof.

2001, c. 760, § 2.1-114.5:04; 2009, c. 457; 2015, cc. 502, 503.