(

a) Whenever any member of State Bargaining Unit employed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is disabled by injury arising out of and in the course of their duties, they shall become entitled, regardless of their period of service with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to leave of absence while disabled without loss of salary, in lieu of disability payments under this chapter, for a period not exceeding one year. (

b) If the disabling injury described in subdivision (

a) is a severe burn as determined by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection or their designee, the employee shall become entitled, regardless of their period of service, to leave of absence while so disabled without loss of salary, in lieu of disability payments under this chapter, for a period not exceeding three years. (

c) An employee shall only receive benefits pursuant to this

section during the time period for which they would normally be employed. When this

section does not apply, the employee shall be eligible for those benefits that would apply if this

section had not been enacted. (

d) This

section shall not apply to periods of disability that occur subsequent to termination of employment by resignation, retirement, or dismissal. When this

section does not apply, the employee shall be eligible for those benefits that would apply if this

section had not been enacted. (

e) This

section shall also apply to an employee related to State Bargaining Unit and employed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection who is excepted from the definition of “state employee” in subdivision (

c) of

Section of the Government Code. (

f) This

section shall apply to injuries sustained on or after November 1, 2022.