This bill amends the law regarding paid maternity leave for public school employees in Arkansas. It establishes that employees of public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools are eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid maternity leave under specific conditions, including having been employed for at least one year, being female, and not having a history of leave abuse in the past year. The bill also clarifies definitions related to maternity leave, including the circumstances under which it can be taken, such as the birth of a biological child, adoption of a child under one year of age, or foster placement of an infant.

A significant change in the bill is the requirement that the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education will cover 100% of the incurred costs for approved paid maternity leave, as opposed to the previous cost-sharing arrangement where both the state and the school district would each pay 50%. The bill mandates the creation of a standard agreement for these costs and outlines the division's responsibility to establish rules for managing the agreement, reimbursement processes, and other related procedures.