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 and outlines that the paid parental leave will be compensated at 100% of the employee's base pay.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing language by deleting references to "family leave" and the specific provisions for donated leave related to adoption. It requires the State of Alabama Personnel Department to adopt rules for implementing the new parental leave policy and to provide annual reports on its usage. The act emphasizes that the parental leave will run concurrently with other leave entitlements and that any unused leave will not carry over or have cash value. The legislation is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

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