If a public officer or employee is absent with leave under the provisions of the preceding sections and if it is necessary in the public interest to provide for the performance of the duties of his or her position during such absence, the authority having power to fill a vacancy in the position may appoint a substitute, to be known as acting incumbent, who shall qualify as required for the regular incumbent, shall receive the same compensation as fixed by law or otherwise such compensation as may be fixed by proper authority, and shall have all the power and perform all the duties of the position until the return of the regular incumbent; except that this shall not preclude the making of any other provision for the discharge of the duties of the position which may be otherwise authorized by law.
Source: L. 55: p. 621, § 39. CRS 53: § 94-9-39. C.R.S. 1963: § 94-1-39. L. 2002: Entire section amended, p. 600, § 47, effective May 24.