The proposed bill establishes a paid parental leave program in Alaska, administered by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. It creates a new parental leave fund account, funded by a special employee contribution of 0.15% of wages, and sets eligibility criteria for employees to receive paid parental leave benefits for various qualifying purposes, such as caring for a newborn or adopted child. The duration of the leave can range from eight to 26 weeks, depending on fund solvency. The bill also includes provisions for coordinating benefits with existing leave policies, protections against employer retaliation, and mandates that employers provide written notice to employees about their rights under the new program.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the Alaska Statutes related to employment assistance and parental leave funding. It introduces new provisions for withholding federal income tax from paid parental leave and requires the Department of Labor to comply with federal regulations regarding tax deductions. The bill modifies employer contribution rates under the unemployment compensation fund and updates weekly benefit amounts for individuals based on their base period wages, with new amounts inserted and outdated figures deleted. It also increases the weekly allowance for dependents and expands circumstances for withholding child support obligations, including from those on paid parental leave. The program is set to commence on January 1, 2027, with an actuarial study due by December 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
HB0193A, AM HB 193, introduced 04/15/2025: 23.10.700, 23.10.795, 23.10.705, 23.10.710, 23.20.130, 23.20.175, 23.20.290, 37.10.050, 23.20.185, 23.20.275, 23.10.715, 23.10.720, 18.50.165, 23.10.725, 23.20.350, 23.10.730, 23.10.735, 23.10.740, U.S.C, 39.20.500, 39.20.550, 23.10.745, 23.10.750, 23.10.755, 43.23.140, 23.10.760, 23.10.765, 23.10.770, 23.10.775, 23.10.780, 23.10.785, 23.20.520, 23.20.525, 23.20.526, 25.27.020, 25.27.170, 25.27.025, 23.20.401, 25.27.165, 25.27.166, 25.27.060, 25.27.063, 47.07.025, 37.05.146
HB0193B, AM CSHB 193(L&C), introduced 05/07/2025: 23.10.700, 23.10.795, 23.10.705, 23.10.710, 23.20.290, 23.20.130, 23.20.175, 37.10.050, 23.20.185, 23.20.275, 23.10.715, 23.10.720, 18.50.165, 23.10.725, 23.20.350, 23.10.730, 23.10.780, 23.10.735, U.S.C, 39.20.500, 39.20.550, 23.10.740, 23.10.745, 23.10.750, 43.23.140, 23.10.755, 23.10.760, 23.10.765, 23.10.770, 23.10.775, 23.20.520, 23.20.525, 23.20.526, 23.15.625, 23.15.630, 23.15.620, 23.15.660, 25.27.020, 25.27.170, 25.27.025, 23.20.401, 25.27.165, 25.27.166, 25.27.060, 25.27.063, 47.07.025, 37.05.146