Eligibility for paid blood donation leave to include employees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities expanded.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kim Hicks

HF 4528 extends paid blood donation leave to MnSCU employees, granting 100% pay for up to three hours per year with 14-day notice and no impact on other benefits.

Introduction and first reading, referred to State Government Finance and Policy

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What the bill does

HF 4528 expands current paid blood donation leave to include employees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (often referred to as the MnSCU system). The bill modifies Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 43A.187, to ensure that employees of state colleges and universities are eligible for paid blood donation leave on the same terms as other state employees.

Key provisions

Leave purpose and pay: State employees may take leave to donate blood, with 100% of pay during the leave.

Leave duration: The total leave used for blood donation may not exceed three hours in a 12-month period.

Notice requirement: An employee seeking blood donation leave must provide 14 days’ notice to the appointing authority.

Impact on other benefits: The leave must not affect:

Vacation leave
Pension
Compensatory time
Personal vacation days
Sick leave
Earned overtime accumulation
Seniority

Scope expansion: The current law previously applied to state employees but excludes MnSCU employees. The language clearly removes that exclusion, thereby extending eligibility to MnSCU employees.

Who is affected

Primary beneficiaries: Employees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system.

Indirect effects: Aligns MnSCU employees with other state employees regarding blood donation leave, potentially impacting staffing decisions around donor leave and administrative processes for leave requests.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and status: HF 4528 introduced and referred to the State Government Finance and Policy committee (as of 03/23/2026). Co-sponsor listed: Kim Hicks.

Effective date: The bill text does not specify an effective date beyond enactment language; typically, Minnesota bills include an effective date in the act, but it is not stated in the provided excerpt. If enacted, the change would apply to MnSCU employees receiving blood donation leave under section 43A.187.

Practical implications

MnSCU employees will have access to paid blood donation leave equivalent to other state employees, with the same cap (three hours per 12 months) and conditions (notice requirement and non-detriment to other benefits).

Administration of leave requests would require coordination to ensure 14-day notice and proper accounting within the 12-month window.

Summary

HF 4528 seeks to equalize eligibility for paid blood donation leave by including MnSCU employees, ensuring they receive 100% pay for up to three hours per 12 months to donate blood, with a 14-day notice requirement and protections that the leave does not affect other forms of paid time or seniority. The bill moves through the standard legislative process and is sponsored (co-sponsored) by Kim Hicks.

Bill