The Alabama State Employee Family First Paid Parental Leave Act amends Section 36-26-35.2 of the Code of Alabama 1975 and introduces Chapter 26B, which establishes provisions for paid parental leave for eligible state employees following the birth or adoption of a child. The bill allows state employees to take up to eight weeks of paid parental leave, which can be used intermittently or on a reduced schedule within 365 days of the qualifying event. It also specifies that if both parents work for the same state agency, they are limited to a combined total of eight weeks of leave unless certain health conditions are met. The act mandates that employees be restored to their original or equivalent positions upon returning from leave.

In addition to the new provisions, the bill deletes references to "family leave" from existing law and clarifies the definition of "parental leave" as it pertains to the birth or adoption of a child. The State of Alabama Personnel Department is tasked with adopting rules for the implementation of this chapter and must provide annual reports on the use of parental leave by state employees. The act emphasizes that paid parental leave will be compensated at 100% of the employee's base pay and will not require the use of other leave types. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 36-26B-1, 36-26B-1
Engrossed: 36-26B-1, 36-26-35