A. Except as provided in subsection D of § 51.1-1103, short-term disability benefits for participating employees shall commence upon the expiration of a seven-calendar-day waiting period. The waiting period shall commence the first day of a disability or of maternity leave. If an employee returns to work for one day or less during the seven-calendar-day waiting period but cannot continue to work, the periods worked shall not be considered to have interrupted the seven-calendar-day waiting period. Additionally, the seven-calendar-day waiting period shall not be considered to be interrupted if the employee works 20 hours or less during the waiting period. Short-term disability benefits payable as the result of a catastrophic disability or major chronic condition shall not require a waiting period.

B. Except as provided in subsections C and E of this section and § 51.1-1131, short-term disability coverage shall provide income replacement for a percentage of a participating employee's creditable compensation during the period specified below that an employee is disabled, on maternity leave, or takes periodic absences due to a major chronic condition, as determined by the Board or its designee, based on the number of months of state service as an eligible employee, as follows:

a

Work days of 100%

Work days of 80%

Work days of 60%

b

Months of

replacement of

replacement of

replacement of

c

state service

creditable compensation

creditable compensation

creditable compensation

d

Less than 60

5

20

100

e

60 to 119

25

25

75

f

120 to 179

25

50

50

g

180 or more

25

75

25

C. For all eligible employees commencing employment or reemployment on or after July 1, 2009, except as provided in subsections B and E of this section and § 51.1-1131, short-term disability coverage shall provide income replacement for (i) 60 percent of a participating employee's creditable compensation for the first 60 months of continuous state service after employment or reemployment and (ii) thereafter, a percentage of a participating employee's creditable compensation during the periods that he is disabled, on maternity leave, or takes periodic absences due to a major chronic condition, based on the number of months of continuous state service, as determined by the Board or its designee, as follows:

a

Work days of 100%

Work days of 80%

Work days of 60%

b

Months of

replacement of

replacement of

replacement of

c

state service

creditable compensation

creditable compensation

creditable compensation

d

60 to 119

25

25

75

e

120 to 179

25

50

50

f

180 or more

25

75

25

D. Creditable compensation during periods an employee receives short-term disability benefits shall include general salary increases awarded during the period of short-term disability coverage.

E. An employee's disability credits may be used, on a day for day basis, to extend the period an employee receives short-term disability benefits paid at 100 percent of replacement of creditable compensation.

F. Short-term disability benefits shall be payable only during periods of (i) total disability, (ii) partial disability, (iii) maternity leave, or (iv) periodic absences due to a major chronic condition as defined by the Board or its designee.

1998, c. 774; 1999, c. 144; 2000, c. 889; 2004, c. 1019; 2010, c. 750; 2012, c. 417.