This bill amends Section 110.221 of the Florida Statutes to establish a framework for paid parental leave for state employees. It defines "paid parental leave" as fully paid leave for parents following the birth or adoption of a child and mandates that the state provide 12 weeks of such leave to eligible employees in the career service. The bill prohibits the state from requiring employees to use their annual or sick leave during this period and ensures that employees can accumulate benefits while on paid leave. Additionally, it clarifies that the state cannot terminate an employee's employment due to pregnancy or adoption and must grant both paid parental leave and unpaid family medical leave when requested.

The bill also includes several modifications to existing definitions and provisions. It introduces new definitions for "family" and "family medical leave," while removing the previous definition of "parental leave." Furthermore, it specifies that the state may not refuse to grant paid parental leave and outlines the conditions under which employees can take family medical leave. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 76 Filed: 110.221