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. Under this act, female employees are entitled to eight weeks of paid leave, while male employees can take two weeks following the birth, stillbirth, or miscarriage of a child, as well as for the adoption of a child under three years of age. 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 and administration of this leave, along with annual reporting on its usage.

The act sets specific eligibility criteria, including a minimum employment duration of 12 consecutive months prior to the qualifying event, and mandates that employees submit a written plan for their leave and agree to a return-to-work agreement. Parental leave must be used within 365 days of the qualifying event and may run concurrently with other leave entitlements. The bill amends Section 36-26-35.2 of the Code of Alabama 1975, removing references to "family leave" and clarifying that employees can only donate unused leave for catastrophic sick leave. The act ensures that employees on parental leave receive 100% of their base pay, maintain health care benefits, and are restored to their previous teaching grade upon return. It 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