SECTION 20.603. Staff Development

(a) Work related. The Commission may pay for an employee to attend a workshop, seminar, conference, institute, or continuing education course that is related to a current or prospective duty assignment. An employee's request to attend a staff development program shall have been approved in advance by the employee's supervisor and division director.

(b) Licensing requirement. An employee's participation in a continuing education course or program that is required for an employee to maintain a professional license shall be considered a priority in allocating a division's training budget if the professional license is a requirement of the employee's job.

(c) Use of accrued leave. Attendance at an approved staff development program shall be considered part of the employee's normal work duties, and the employee shall not be required to use accrued leave to attend.

(d) Travel expenses. The Commission may reimburse travel expenses incurred by employees attending a staff development program. In that event, the expenses shall be reimbursed according to current Commission policy regarding employee travel.

Source Note: The provisions of this §20.603 adopted to be effective April 12, 2004, 2004, 29 TexReg 3621