The bill, known as the Alabama Family Leave Act, aims to amend Section 36-26-35.2 of the Code of Alabama 1975 and to add Chapter 26B to Title 36, providing for paid parental leave for certain state employees and employees of local boards of education. The bill outlines the eligibility for paid parental leave following the birth of a child, the placement of a child for adoption, or the stillbirth of a child. It specifies that eligible employees are entitled to up to eight weeks of paid parental leave, which must be used within 365 days of the qualifying event. The bill also states that the leave is paid at 100% of the employee's base pay and does not require the employee to exhaust other types of leave. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the continuation of health care benefits during the leave and requires the State of Alabama Personnel Department to adopt rules and make an annual report on the implementation and use of parental leave.

The bill includes deletions from the current law, such as removing the option for state employees to donate leave for family reasons and the specific provision for donated leave for adoption. It also removes the definition of "family leave" as maternity or adoption leave. The bill ensures that upon the expiration of parental leave, employees will be restored to their previous position or an equivalent one. Paid parental leave will run concurrently with other leave entitlements, such as under the Family and Medical Leave Act. The bill also stipulates that parental leave has no cash value, cannot be used to calculate retirement benefits, and is not compensated upon separation from service, retirement, or death. Unused parental leave does not roll over or get reserved for future use. The bill was read and passed with amendments by the Senate, with 26 yeas and 2 nays.

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