AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AS THE MISSISSIPPI STATE EMPLOYEES PAID PARENTAL LEAVE ACT; TO PROVIDE FOR SIX WEEKS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR ELIGIBLE STATE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE THE PRIMARY CAREGIVERS OF A CHILD AND TWO WEEKS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR THE SECONDARY CAREGIVERS, TO BE USED TO CARE FOR THE CHILD AFTER THE BIRTH OR ADOPTION OF THE CHILD; TO DEFINE "ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE," "PAID PARENTAL LEAVE," "PRIMARY CAREGIVER" AND "SECONDARY CAREGIVER" FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE EMPLOYEE SHALL BE COMPENSATED AT 100% OF THE EMPLOYEE'S REGULAR SALARY WHILE TAKING THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE MUST BE TAKEN WITHIN 12 WEEKS OF THE BIRTH OR ADOPTION OF THE CHILD; TO PROVIDE THAT PAID PARENTAL LEAVE MAY BE TAKEN ONLY ONCE IN A PERIOD OF TWELVE MONTHS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE PROVIDED UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO OTHER LEAVE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO STATE EMPLOYEES BY STATE OR FEDERAL LAW AND SHALL NOT BE COUNTED AGAINST ACCRUED PERSONAL LEAVE OR MAJOR MEDICAL LEAVE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE SHALL RUN CONCURRENTLY WITH ANY LEAVE PROVIDED TO AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE UNDER THE FEDERAL FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT (FMLA) WHERE APPLICABLE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE SHALL NOT BE ACCRUED OR CARRIED OVER OR USED FOR RETIREMENT PURPOSES AND IS NOT PAYABLE UPON SEPARATION FROM STATE SERVICE; TO REQUIRE AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE REQUESTING THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE TO GIVE NOTICE AT LEAST 30 CALENDAR DAYS BEFORE THE ANTICIPATED LEAVE START DATE WHERE FORESEEABLE; TO PROVIDE THAT IF ADVANCE NOTICE OF 30 DAYS IS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THE EMPLOYEE SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE AT THE EARLIEST AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-93, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-95, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT AFTER USING THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS ACT, AN EMPLOYEE MAY USE UP TO SIX WEEKS OF EARNED MAJOR MEDICAL LEAVE FOR THE BIRTH OF THE EMPLOYEE'S CHILD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 25-3-93, 25-3-95