Every person employed in the classified service of any community college district shall be granted necessary leave of absence, not to exceed three days, or five days if out-of-state travel is required, on account of the death of any member of his or her immediate family. No deduction shall be made from the salary of the employee nor shall such leave be deducted from leave granted by other sections of this code or provided by the governing board of the district. The governing board may enlarge the benefits of this section and may expand the class of relatives listed below as members of the immediate family. “Members of the immediate family,” as used in this section, means the mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, or a grandchild of the employee or of the spouse of the employee, and the spouse, son, son-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, brother, or sister of the employee, or any relative living in the immediate household of the employee.
This section shall apply to districts that have adopted the merit system in the same manner and effect as if it were a part of Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060).