Each employee in the State Personnel Management System, except a temporary employee, is entitled to sick leave with pay as provided in this subtitle. Sick leave may be used: for illness or disability of the employee; for death, illness, or disability of a member of the employee's immediate family; following the birth of the employee's child; when a child is placed with the employee for adoption; or for a medical appointment of the employee or a member of the employee's immediate family.

Fifteen days, not to exceed 120 hours, of sick leave accrue to an employee each year, on a pro rata basis, from the beginning of the employee's State service.

Payment for sick leave taken under this subtitle for personal illness or disability constitutes a separate benefit on account of sickness and is not a continuation of salary. Payment for sick leave taken under this subtitle for any reason not specified in subsection (a) of this section is a continuation of salary.

An employee who uses sick leave for 5 or more consecutive workdays for personal illness or disability or the illness or disability of a member of the employee's immediate family may not receive payment under this subtitle unless the employee gives the employee's immediate supervisor an original certificate of illness or disability. The certificate required under subsection (a) of this section shall be signed by one of the following: a medical doctor who is authorized to practice medicine or surgery by the state in which the doctor practices; if authorized to practice in a state and performing within the scope of that authority: a chiropractor; a clinical psychologist; a dentist; a licensed certified social worker – clinical; a nurse midwife; a nurse practitioner; an oral surgeon; an optometrist; a physical therapist; a physician assistant; a podiatrist; or a licensed professional counselor – clinical; an accredited Christian Science practitioner; or a health care provider as defined by the federal Family Medical Leave Act. The certificate required under subsection (a) of this section due to an employee's illness or disability shall include a prognosis about the employee's ability to return to work.

An employee who is responsible for the care and nurturing of a child may use, without certification of illness or disability, up to 30 days of accrued sick leave to care for the child during the period immediately following: the birth of the employee’s child; or the placement of the child with the employee for adoption. If two employees are responsible for the care and nurturing of a child, each employee may use, without certification of illness or disability, up to 30 days of accrued sick leave to care for the child during the period immediately following: the birth of the employees’ child; or the placement of the child with the employees for adoption. An employee who uses accrued sick leave following the birth of the employee’s child may not receive payment under this subtitle unless the employee gives the employee’s immediate supervisor information required by guidelines issued by the Secretary about the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. An employee who uses accrued sick leave for adoption purposes may not receive payment under this subtitle unless the employee gives the employee’s immediate supervisor the certificate required by guidelines issued by the Secretary about the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.

An employee may accumulate unused sick leave and use as permitted by § 9-501(b) of this subtitle. Except as otherwise provided by law, an employee whose State employment terminates for any reason forfeits all unused sick leave.

Sick leave that is forfeited is placed, unless the employee objects, in the State Employees' Leave Bank established by § 9-602(a)(1) of this title.

Subject to subsection (b) of this section, an employee may voluntarily donate the employee's unused sick leave to the State Employees' Leave Bank or to another State employee under the Employee-to-Employee Leave Donation Program under Subtitle 6 of this title. An employee may donate sick leave under this section only to the extent that the employee has a sick leave balance of at least 240 hours after the donation.