(a) Whenever an employee of a school district, an education service cooperative, a state education agency, or a two-year college in this state shall leave the school district, education service cooperative, state education agency, or two-year college and accept employment in another school district in this state, education service cooperative, state education agency, or two-year college, the employee shall be granted credit by the new school district, education service cooperative, state education agency, or two-year college for any unused sick leave accumulated by the employee while employed by the former school district but not to exceed a maximum of ninety (90) days.
(b)
(1) The accumulated and unused sick leave credit shall be granted to the employee upon furnishing proof in writing from the school district of former employment of the employee.
(2) Sick leave granted to an employee under subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall be depleted before the employee uses sick leave granted by the current school district.
(3) Upon the hiring of an employee and the verification of accumulated sick leave, sick leave that is transferred from the school district of former employment of the employee to the school district of current employment of the employee is eligible for payment upon retirement of the employee from the school district of current employment of the employee if the school district's policy provides for payment of sick leave.
(c) The provisions of this section shall apply to employment with another school district, education service cooperative, state education agency, or two-year college on or after July 1, 1997.