The bill amends the Uniform Attendance and Leave Policy Act to provide paid leave for public employees in the event of the death of an immediate family member or child. It introduces new provisions that allow employees to access up to 40 hours of catastrophic leave with pay within the first four weeks following the death of an immediate family member. The definition of "immediate family member" is expanded to include a range of relatives, and the definition of "child" is clarified to encompass biological, adoptive, stepchildren, unborn children, and children in foster care.

Additionally, the bill outlines eligibility criteria for catastrophic leave, including the requirement that employees must have been employed for at least one year, and it specifies that employees do not need to exhaust their sick or annual leave before being granted catastrophic leave for the death of an immediate family member. The bill also states that unused catastrophic leave cannot be carried over to the next calendar year and is not compensable upon termination or retirement. Overall, the amendments aim to provide greater support for public employees during times of personal loss.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB241 V2 - 3-17-2025 02:20 PM: 21-5-214
Old version SB241 V3 - 4-3-2025 12:18 PM: 21-5-214
Act 885: 21-5-214