(a) Except as provided in section 41 of Title 2 of this Code, all officers and employees of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, regardless of tenure are entitled to sick leave which accrues at the rate of one-half day for each full biweekly pay period.
(b) Proof of sickness shall be subject to such regulations as the Governor may prescribe.
(c) When required by serious disability or ailments or when the employee is the primary care giver of a seriously ill spouse, child, parent or any individual who is the legal dependent of the employee, up to 183 days sick leave may be advanced upon approval by the commissioner or head of an agency.
(d) Sick leave which is not used by an employee accumulates for use in succeeding years.
(e) Any employee of the government of the Virgin Islands who has accumulated sick leave shall retain all rights to such sick leave upon separation from one department, commission or branch of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands and being reemployed in another department, commission, or branch of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands; Provided, however, That not more than six months shall lapse between separation and reemployment. The provisions of this subsection shall apply if the employee is separated or separates from government service in order to enter the military service of the United States or to attend an institution of higher education except that in such case, not more than six months shall lapse between separation from the military service and reemployment with the Government of the United States Virgin Islands or failure to enroll for the next academic session of the institution of higher education and reemployment with the Government of the United States Virgin Islands.