Senate Bill No. 157, introduced by Senator Jenkins, establishes the "Parental Leave for Educators Act," which mandates paid parental leave for eligible employees within local education agencies (LEAs) in Louisiana. The bill defines key terms such as "child," "eligible employee," and "paid parental leave," and stipulates that eligible employees are entitled to six weeks (or 240 hours) of paid leave at 100% of their base pay without deductions from their leave balances. The legislation allows for both parents to take leave concurrently or at different times and prohibits requiring the use of accrued leave before accessing paid parental leave. Additionally, it ensures that the granting of parental leave does not affect any tenure rights an employee may have.

The bill also creates the "Paid Parental Leave For Educators Fund," which will be used to reimburse LEAs for the costs associated with hiring substitute teachers during an employee's parental leave. Each LEA is required to adopt policies and procedures to implement the provisions of the act, including providing written notice to employees about their rights and the process for applying for parental leave. The act will take effect on January 1, 2027, following the adoption of necessary rules and regulations by November 1, 2026.