Ed. Code, § 87768

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the governing board of any community college district may grant a leave of absence under Section 87767 to any academic employee who has rendered service to the district for at least six consecutive years preceding the granting of the leave, but not more than one such leave of absence shall be granted in each six-year period. The governing board granting the leave of absence may prescribe the standards of service which shall entitle the employee to the leave of absence. No absence from the service of the district under a leave of absence, other than a leave of absence granted pursuant to Section 87767, granted by the governing board of the district shall be deemed a break in the continuity of service required by this section, and the period of the absence shall not be included as service in computing the six consecutive years of service required by this section. Service under a national recognized fellowship or foundation approved by the board of governors, for a period of not more than one year, for research, teaching or lecturing shall not be deemed a break in continuity of service, and the period of the absence shall be included in computing the six consecutive years of service required by this section.