Section 82-B. Emergency service volunteers; paid leave

Notwithstanding any
  other provisions of law to the contrary, public officers  and  employees
  of  the  state  who  are certified by the American Red Cross as disaster
  volunteers shall be granted leave from work with pay to  participate  in
  specialized  disaster  relief  operations  upon written request for such
  services by the American Red Cross and upon the approval  of  the  chief
  administrative  officer  of  the  state agency, department or bureau for
  which the public officer or  employee  serves.  The  public  officer  or
  employee  shall  be  compensated  at  his or her regular rate of pay for
  those regular work hours during which the public officer or employee  is
  absent  from work while participating in authorized specialized disaster
  relief  operations.  Such  leave  shall  be  provided  without  loss  of
  seniority,  compensation,  sick  leave, vacation leave or other overtime
  compensation to which the volunteer is otherwise entitled and shall  not
  exceed twenty days in any calendar year.