Except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this subsection, or otherwise provided by law, each employee in the State Personnel Management System, except a temporary employee, is entitled to 6 days, not to exceed 48 hours, of personal leave with pay at the beginning of the first full pay period of the calendar year. For the calendar year in which an employee begins employment, the employee is entitled only to the following personal leave with pay: 6 days, not to exceed 48 hours, if employment begins on or after January 1 and on or before the last day in February; 5 days, not to exceed 40 hours, if employment begins on or after March 1 and on or before April 30; 4 days, not to exceed 32 hours, if employment begins on or after May 1 and on or before June 30; or 3 days, not to exceed 24 hours, if employment begins on or after July 1. For each calendar year that is a leap year, each employee in the State Personnel Management System, except a temporary employee, is entitled to 7 days, not to exceed 56 hours, of personal leave with pay at the beginning of the first full pay period of the calendar year. For each calendar year, an employee of the Maryland School for the Deaf who works 11 months or less in a calendar year is entitled to 3 days, not to exceed 24 hours, of personal leave with pay at the beginning of the first full pay period of the calendar year. Personal leave may be used for any purpose.