Peace officers: injury or illness: leaves of absence.

Senator Ashby's legislation expands California's salary preservation program for disabled public safety officers to include peace officers employed by eighth-class counties. The measure amends Labor Code Section 4850, which currently provides full salary continuation during disability leave for various law enforcement personnel and firefighters injured in the line of duty.

Under the amended provisions, peace officers in eighth-class counties would receive their full salary, rather than standard workers' compensation disability payments, when unable to work due to job-related injuries or illnesses. This leave benefit extends up to one year or until the officer begins receiving permanent disability pension payments. The existing program applies this same framework to city police officers, county sheriffs, firefighters, probation officers, and other specified public safety personnel.

The legislation maintains current eligibility requirements and exclusions. Administrative staff, such as telephone operators, clerks, and mechanics, remain ineligible even if employed by qualifying agencies. The bill preserves existing provisions that separate this benefit from family and medical leave entitlements and allow insurers to pay disability indemnity to covered employers. A specific exemption for certain City and County of San Francisco employees, retroactive to 2010, also remains in effect.