Posting Language
Title
Approve a resolution authorizing the extension of line of duty illness leave of absence for Austin Fire Lieutenant Suzanne La Follette through May 30, 2027. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. This position’s salary and benefits are included in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Austin Fire Operating Budget. Overtime costs for position backfill associated with this vacancy are covered in overtime budget projections.
De
Lead Department
Austin Fire.
Fiscal Note
This item has no fiscal impact. This position’s salary and benefits are included in the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Austin Fire Operating Budget. Overtime costs for position backfill associated with this vacancy are covered in overtime budget projections.
For More Information:
Tom Vocke, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire, 512-974-0132.
Additional Backup Information:
Austin Fire (AFD) is requesting that City Council approve an extension of Lieutenant Suzanne La Follette’s illness leave of absence until May 30, 2027, at full pay, for an illness related to the line of duty.
Texas Local Government Code Section 143.073 (Line of Duty Illness or Injury Leave of Absence) provides that a municipality shall provide to a firefighter or police officer a leave of absence for an illness or injury related to the person’s line of duty. The leave must be at full pay for a period commensurate with the nature of the line of duty illness or injury and if necessitated by the illness or injury, the leave must continue for at least one year. At the end of the year, the municipality’s governing body may extend the leave at full or reduced pay. If the governing body chooses not to extend the leave, or if the person’s salary is reduced below 60 percent of their regular monthly salary, the person may be entitled to retire on pension until they are able to return to full duty.
On May 29, 2025, Lieutenant Suzanne La Follette filed a claim indicating that she was suffering from a line of duty related illness. She began a leave of absence at full pay on May 30, 2025. Due to the serious nature of the illness, Lieutenant La Follette continues to need care and treatment and remains unable to return to her job as a Fire Lieutenant. She will have used all the line of duty leave allocated for this illness on May 30, 2026, and needs additional time to reach her full recovery potential. Accordingly, AFD is requesting an extension of her line of duty leave for up to one year at full pay. If Council approves this item, Lieutenant Suzanne La Follette’s line of duty illness leave will be extended, at full pay, until May 30, 2027.