Opinion ID: 2206423
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Claim for Sick Leave.

Text: For convenience all ten of these appellees will be referred to jointly under the name of Allegre. Allegre's claim for unused and accumulated sick leave is based on section 79.23, The Code, which provides for payment not to exceed $2,000 to state employees (with certain exceptions) who retire with unused sick leave. The pleadings do not disclose the reason the Board rejected Allegre's claim; nor is that important now. For our purposes it is enough that the Board did so. Allegre argues that this claim for unused sick leave calls for the interpretation of a statute on a matter beyond the Board's authority as limited by chapter 262, The Code, which is the Board's enabling act. From this premise, Allegre concludes the case does not involve agency action because the IAPA does not apply. Therefore, Allegre contends the controversy is properly before the court. Allegre's argument has considerable appeal; but it cannot withstand examination in view of the statutory definition of agency action. If Allegre is entitled to payment, the Board has a duty to see that payment is made. Failure to do so is a failure to perform an agency duty under the definition of agency action. Thus, the Board's denial of Allegre's claim is clearly agency action. Allegre protests that it is inherently wrong to permit the Board to interpret the meaning of section 79.23, the statute under which his claim is made, because that is beyond the authority conferred on the Board by chapter 262, The Code, the enabling act under which the Board was created. We disagree. Chapter 262 confers broad power on the Board in the area of hiring professors and instructors, fixing salaries, granting leaves, managing both real and personal property, establishing rules for governing the institutions under its control, and directing expenditures of all appropriations. § 262.9. Although not specifically mentioned, the right to decide if retiring employees are entitled to the benefits of section 79.23 is granted under that part of section 262.9 which authorize the Board to perform all other acts necessary and proper for the execution of the powers and duties conferred upon it. § 262.9(11). Our conclusion is supported by the fact that § 79.23 provides that claims of employees of the Board shall be filed with, and on forms supplied by, the Board. We take this as an indication the legislature intended the Board to first pass on the eligibility of its own employees for payment of unused sick leave upon their retirement. We see no other reasonable explanation for making special provision for filing of claims for those employed by the Board.