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Kingsville adopts mental-health leave policy, reinstates expirations for flex leave
Summary
The commission adopted a paid mental-health leave policy (up to 40 consecutive work hours per year) for eligible employees and approved a revision to the flex-leave policy to reinstate 12-month expiration dates for flex and birthday hours; existing balances must be used by Nov. 30, 2025.
The City of Kingsville approved two personnel-policy changes on Nov. 1: a new paid mental-health leave policy (Policy 7.8.0-1) and a revision to the flex-leave policy (Policy 7-31) that clarifies expiration dates.
Speaker 4 presented the mental-health leave policy, explaining it expands guidance in Texas Local Government Code Chapter 6.14.015 beyond peace officers and telecommunications personnel to include all full- and part-time city employees. The policy defines traumatic events and lists examples such as officer-involved shootings, investigations involving death or serious bodily injury, and witnessing a sudden violent death. Under the policy, eligible employees may receive up to 40 consecutive work hours of paid mental-health leave per calendar year, and employees’ regular leave balances will not be reduced while on approved mental-health leave. The proposal also states requests and related information are confidential.
During questioning, an unidentified commissioner asked how the city would track requests and whether a doctor’s excuse would be required. Speaker 4 said eligible employees must submit a written request to their supervisor or department director; department directors or supervisors will determine whether the request qualifies, notify HR, and render a decision no later than 24 hours after receipt of the request. The policy makes determinations case-by-case rather than prescribing a single fixed length for every situation.
Separately, Speaker 4 summarized proposed revisions to Policy 7-31 (flex leave). The revision reinstates expiration dates: eight hours of flex leave are provided to non–civil-service employees each December and expire 12 months after accrual; birthday hours (four hours for full-time employees, two hours for part-time employees) also expire 12 months after accrual. Existing flex-leave balances will expire and be forfeited if not used by Nov. 30, 2025, absent other action. Speaker 6 moved to approve the flex-leave revision and commissioners voted in favor.
Both the mental-health leave policy and the flex-leave revision were approved by roll-call votes and adopted as presented in the public meeting record. The transcript does not show any recorded amendments to either policy during the public session.
