Arkansas Code Title 14. Local Government § 14-53-108. Uniform sick leave

(b)(1) In cities having sick leave provisions through ordinance, the total sick leave accumulated by the individual firefighter shall be credited to him or her and new days accumulated under the provisions of this section until the maximum prescribed in subsection (a) of this section is reached.

(2) If the governing body of the employing municipality successfully reduces the accrual rate, no firefighter shall have any previously earned sick leave reduced in value.

(3) Time off may be charged against accumulated sick leave only for the days that a firefighter is scheduled to work. No sick leave as provided in this section shall be charged against any firefighter during any period of sickness, illness, or injury for any days that the firefighter is not scheduled to work.

(c)(1) If at the end of his or her term of service, upon retirement or death, whichever occurs first, any firefighter has unused accumulated sick leave, he or she shall be paid for this sick leave at the regular rate of pay in effect at the time of retirement or death.

(2) Payment for unused sick leave in the case of a firefighter, upon retirement or death, shall not exceed three (3) months’ salary unless the city, by ordinance, authorizes a greater amount, but in no event to exceed four and one-half months’ salary.

(d)(1) Cities of the first class, cities of the second class, and incorporated towns shall have the option of providing sick leave for firefighters to accumulate at a rate of fifteen (15) twenty-four-hour working days per year beginning with the date of employment and decreasing to twelve (12) twenty-four-hour working days beginning four (4) years after employment.

(2) Unused sick leave shall accumulate to firefighters provided with fifteen (15) twenty-four-hour working days per year sick leave and twelve (12) twenty-four-hour working days per year sick leave to a maximum of one hundred (100) twenty-four-hour working days.

(e)(1) A city of the first class, a city of the second class, and an incorporated town may adopt a catastrophic leave program by ordinance under § 14-42-123 to include a “presumptive illness list for municipal fire department” under this section.

(2) As used in this section, a “presumptive illness list for municipal fire department” means an illness that is chronic or fatal.