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 outlines eligibility criteria for employees to receive benefits for various qualifying purposes, such as caring for a newborn or adopted child. The duration of leave can range from eight to 26 weeks, depending on fund solvency. The bill includes provisions for filing claims, evidence requirements, and benefit calculations, while also ensuring employee protections during the leave period, such as the right to return to their previous positions and maintain health insurance benefits.

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 benefits and mandates an actuarial study of the benefit structures every two years. The bill modifies employer contribution rates under the unemployment compensation fund and updates weekly benefit amounts based on base period wages, with new amounts inserted and outdated figures deleted. It also increases the weekly allowance for dependents and expands circumstances under which an obligor may not be charged interest on late child support payments. The paid parental leave program is set to commence on January 1, 2027, with a requirement for an actuarial study 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