Section 87780 shall not apply to any community college district which adopts and maintains in effect a rule which provides that when a person employed in an adacemic position is absent from his or her duties on account of illness or accident for a period of five school months or less whether or not the absence arises out of or in the course of the employment of the employee, he or she shall receive 50 percent or more of his or her regular salary during the period of the absence and nothing in Section 87780 shall be construed as preventing the governing board of any district from adopting any such rule.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, when a person employed in an academic position is absent from his or her duties on account of illness for a period of more than five school months, or when a person is absent from his or her duties for a cause other than illness, the amount deducted from the salary due him or her for the month in which the absence occurs shall be determined according to the rules and regulations established by the governing board of the district. These rules and regulations shall not conflict with rules and regulations of the board of governors.
Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to deprive any district, city, or city and county of the right to make any reasonable rule for the regulation of accident or sick leave or cumulative accident or sick leave without loss of salary for academic employees.
This section shall be applicable whether or not the absence from duty is by reason of a leave of absence granted by the governing board of the employing district.