Section 20

A child care leave of absence without pay shall be granted to any employee (male or female) who becomes the parent of a child up to four years of age (or whose domestic partner registered pursuant to the New York City Administrative Code Section 3-240 et seq.) becomes the parent of a child up to four years of age), either by birth or by adoption, for a period of up to forty-eight (48) months. The use of this maximum allowance will be limited to one instance only. All other child care leaves of an employee shall be limited to a thirty-six (36) month maximum. * Refer to prior Citywide Agreement for accrual rate in effect prior to July 1, 1991.
Prior to the commencement of child care leave, an employee shall be continued in pay status for a period of time equal to all of the employee's unused accrued annual leave and compensatory time (including FLSA compensatory time).
Employees, who initially elect to take less than the forty-eight (48) month maximum period of leave or the thirty-six (36) months, may elect to extend such leave by up to two extensions, each extension to be a minimum of six (6) months. However, in no case may the initial leave period plus the one or two extensions total more than forty-eight (48) months or thirty-six (36) months.
This provision shall not diminish the right of the Agency Head or the Personnel Director, as set forth in Rule 5.1 of the Leave Regulations, to grant a further leave of absence without pay for child care purposes.