IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2015-7
SUBJECT: Organ Donor Leave Policy

Pursuant to the Organ Donor Leave Act, 5 ILCS 327/1, et seq., and to encourage non-judicial employees of the court to help save lives, and to minimize the financial burden on employees who donate organs, bone marrow or blood to improve the quality of life of other persons,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
Effective immediately, the Office of the Chief Judge adopts the policy set forth below.

Definitions

“Blood” means both the liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of a human body and any cells or parts thereof, including, but not limited to, whole blood, plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

“Organ” means any biological tissue of the human body that may be donated by a living donor, including, but not limited to, the kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, intestine, bone, and skin or any subpart thereof.

"Participating employee" means a permanent full-time or part-time employee who has been employed by the Office of the Chief Judge for a period of 6 months or more and who donates an organ, bone marrow, or blood.

"Medical documentation," for purposes of donating an organ or bone marrow, means a written statement by a physician or medical practitioner licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, 225 ILCS 60/2, et seq., or under similar laws of Illinois or another state or country.

"Medical documentation," for purposes of donating blood or platelets, means a written statement from the American Red Cross or blood bank indicating that the employee donated or attempted to donate blood.

Policy

On application to the Human Resources Department of the Office of the Chief Judge, a participating employee may be granted Organ Donor Leave with pay.  A participating employee may use:

1) up to 30 days of Organ Donor Leave in any 12-month period to donate bone marrow; or

2) up to 30 days of Organ Donor Leave in any 12-month period to donate an organ.

An applicant for paid Organ Donor Leave for donating an organ or bone marrow shall submit an application form and medical documentation of the proposed organ or bone marrow donation at least 30 days in advance of the start date of the requested leave.  A participating employee may use Organ Donor Leave to donate an organ only after obtaining approval from the Human Resources Department of the Office of the Chief Judge.

On request in advance to the employee’s supervisor or director, and in accordance with appropriate medical standards established by the American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers, the American Association of Blood Banks, or other nationally recognized standards, a participating employee may be granted Organ Donor Leave to donate blood.

An employee granted Organ Donor Leave to donate blood shall be required to submit medical documentation to the employee's supervisor or director upon returning to work after donating or attempting to donate blood.

A participating employee shall not be required to use accumulated sick, floating holiday, personal, or vacation leave benefit time before becoming eligible for Organ Donor Leave.

Dated this ^9th day of October, 2015.

Entered:

Timothy C. Evans

Chief Judge

Circuit Court of Cook County