No Disruption of Government Service

(a)The Director of the agency or department whose employee has been awarded a scholarship under this law shall balance the need to support the scholarship recipients in the minimum number of six

(6)credit hours as required by the program per semester to enable the recipient to graduate within seven

(7)years for an undergraduate degree or four

(4)years for a graduate degree and the need to ensure that the agency’s or department’s operations are not hindered and that government service to the public is not impaired due to the recipient’s absence from work because of class schedules.

(b)In balancing these needs, the Director shall have the discretion to approve or disapprove the employee’s class schedule, or to limit the number of credit hours enrolled per semester, provided that a written justification is made by the Director concerning the critical need of services by the employee and that government service to the public will be hindered or substantially impaired if the employee’s proposed class schedule be approved. The Director shall exercise his or her discretion in good faith and not unreasonably disapprove or limit employees proposed class schedule unless good cause is shown.