Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the head of each department or independent establishment in the state government shall grant, under regulations prescribed by the State Personnel Board, to employees under their respective jurisdictions, to the extent compatible with the exigencies of the public business and the performance of essential services, time off from duty (without charge to any leave otherwise authorized by law and without loss of compensation and other employee benefits) to comply with religious obligations prescribed by religious denominations of which such employees are bona fide members. Any such time off so granted shall be made up by the employee concerned under appropriate regulations of the authority concerned. Any denial of such time off shall be predicated on a written answer of the authority concerned which shall state the reasons for such denial and shall be transmitted to the employee concerned.