[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 5, Volume 1, Parts 1 to 699]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 5CFR630.606]

[Page 706]
 
                    TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
 
                CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
 
PART 630--ABSENCE AND LEAVE--Table of Contents
 
                          Subpart F--Home Leave
 
Sec. 630.606  Grant of home leave.

    (a) Entitlement. Except as otherwise authorized by statute, an 
employee is entitled to home leave only when he has completed a basic 
service period of 24 months of continuous service abroad. This basic 
service period is terminated by (1) a break in service of 1 or more 
workdays, or (2) an assignment (other than a detail) to a position in 
which an employee is no longer subject to section 6305(a) of title 5, 
United States Code.
    (b) Agency authority. A grant of home leave is at the discretion of 
an agency. An agency may grant home leave in combination with other 
leaves of absence in accordance with established agency policy.
    (c) Limitations. An agency may grant home leave only:
    (1) For use in the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
or a territory or possession of the United States; and
    (2) During an employee's period of service abroad, or within a 
reasonable period after his return from service abroad when it is 
contemplated that he will return to service abroad immediately or on 
completion of an assignment in the United States.

Home leave not granted during a period named in paragraph (c)(2) of this 
section may be granted only when the employee has completed a further 
substantial period of service abroad. This further substantial period of 
service abroad may not be less than the tour of duty prescribed for the 
employee's post of assignment, except when the agency determines that an 
earlier grant of home leave is warranted in an individual case.
    (d) Charging of home leave. The minimum charge for home leave is 1 
day and additional charges are in multiples thereof.
    (e) Refund for home leave. An employee is indebted for the home 
leave used by him when he fails to return to service abroad after the 
period of home leave, or after the completion of an assignment in the 
United States. However, a refund for this indebtedness is not required 
when (1) the employee has completed not less than 6 months' service in 
an assignment in the United States following the period of home leave; 
(2) the agency determines that the employee's failure to return was due 
to compelling personal reasons of a humanitarian or compassionate 
nature, such as may involve physical or mental health or circumstances 
over which the employee has no control; or (3) the agency which granted 
the home leave determines that it is in the public interest not to 
return the employee to his overseas assignment.