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 clarifies that the leave can be taken for the birth of a biological child, the placement of an adopted child under one year of age, or the foster placement of an infant under one year of age. Additionally, it specifies that an employee cannot take an additional twelve weeks of leave following the adoption of a child if they have already taken leave for the same child’s foster placement.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education will cover 100% of the incurred costs for approved paid maternity leave, replacing the previous cost-sharing requirement where both the state and the school district would each pay 50%. The division is also tasked with creating a standard agreement for managing these costs and outlining reimbursement processes and other related procedures. This change aims to simplify the financial responsibilities associated with maternity leave for public school employees.