Section 501.044 - Effect of Sick Leave; Annual Leave(a) An employee may elect to use accrued sick leave before receiving income benefits. If an employee elects to use sick leave, the employee is not entitled to income benefits under this chapter until the employee has exhausted the employee's accrued sick leave.(b) An employee may elect to use all or any number of weeks of accrued annual leave after the employee's accrued sick leave is exhausted. If an employee elects to use annual leave, the employee is not entitled to income benefits under this chapter until the elected number of weeks of leave have been exhausted.Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 953, Sec. 2, eff. 9/1/1999. Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 269, Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/1993.