The Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025 introduces Chapter 6A to the Code of Alabama, establishing provisions for paid parental leave for eligible state employees and local education agency employees. Eligible employees, defined as those with at least 12 consecutive months of employment, are entitled to eight weeks of paid leave for the birth, stillbirth, or miscarriage of a child, and two weeks for male employees in similar circumstances. Additionally, employees can take eight weeks of leave for the adoption of a child under three years of age. The act requires the State Personnel Department, the State Board of Education, and the Alabama Community College System to create implementation rules and mandates annual reporting on leave usage.

The bill outlines specific requirements for taking parental leave, including the submission of a written leave plan and a commitment to return to work for at least eight weeks post-leave. Parental leave must be utilized within 365 days of the qualifying event and can only be taken once during that period. The act ensures that parental leave runs concurrently with other leave entitlements and that employees are restored to their original or equivalent positions upon return. It amends Section 36-26-35.2 of the Code of Alabama 1975, removing references to "family leave" and clarifying the donation of accrued leave for catastrophic sick leave, while setting a maximum of 480 hours for donated leave throughout an employee's career. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 36-26-35, 36-6A-1
Engrossed: 36-26-35
Enrolled: 36-26-35