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 aged three years or younger. The act requires the State of Alabama Personnel Department, the State Board of Education, and the Alabama Community College System to create rules for the implementation of this leave and to provide an annual report on its usage.

The bill also amends Section 36-26-35.2 of the Code of Alabama 1975, removing references to "family leave" and clarifying that state employees can donate accrued leave to others qualifying for catastrophic sick leave, with a maximum limit of 480 hours throughout an employee's career. The act specifies that parental leave will be paid at 100% of the employee's base pay, ensuring that employees retain their health care benefits during the leave period. It also outlines requirements for taking parental leave, including submitting a written plan and agreeing to a return-to-work agreement, with provisions for recovering wages if the agreement is not followed. 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