(1) Cabinet may approve leave of absence for a member of the Commission for a period not exceeding 3 months.
(2) Cabinet may appoint an alternate member to act in the office of the member of the Commission while the member is absent on approved leave pursuant to subsection (1).
(3) A person appointed pursuant to subsection (2) shall belong to the same category of persons to which the member of the Commission who has been granted leave belongs.