Governing boards of community college districts may grant leaves of absence to persons employed in nonacademic positions, and at their discretion may pay compensation at the rate the board prescribes, during the absence, to any employee whose absence is caused by accident or illness, whether or not the absence arises out of or in the course of the employment of the employee, or because of quarantine which results from his or her contact with other persons having a contagious disease while performing his or her duties.