Section 2.

The Human Resources Administration shall authorize leave with pay for Employees to attend approved work related conferences with preference given to the most senior employee in title who has not attended another conference within the calendar year preceding the first day of the conference. The Administrator/Commissioner or the Office or person delegated by the Administrator/Commissioner shall make the determination of those titles and functions which are eligible for attendance, and the number of days to be credited under conference leave provisions. Whole bureaus shall not be excluded from attending a specific conference except by the determination of the Administrator/Commissioner or the Office or person delegated to make such determinations. The HRA retains the right to limit authorization for leave to attend such conferences based upon staff needed in specific locations.
Employees of other agencies may obtain leave with pay to attend approved work related conferences upon the approval of the agency head or his or her designee(s).
The Union and the Employees shall be notified sufficiently in advance of approved conferences.
Time required and spent by an Employee in traveling to and from an approved conference or educational seminar during his or her normal work schedule shall be included in any paid leave of absence granted for such purpose by the Employer, provided that the employee travels to and from the conference by the most expeditious means.