This bill amends Oklahoma education law to include provisions for adoption leave alongside existing maternity leave for education employees. It updates sections related to leave without pay, pay deductions for certain leave, and the establishment of leave sharing programs to explicitly incorporate adoption leave. Additionally, the bill modifies the names and purposes of revolving funds related to paid maternity leave to now include adoption leave, ensuring that statutory references are current. A new framework for the Public School Paid Maternity and Adoption Leave Revolving Fund is established to reimburse school districts for expenses incurred in offering paid leave to eligible employees, outlining eligibility criteria and the process for utilizing sick leave to extend maternity or adoption leave.

Furthermore, the bill creates a continuing fund managed by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to reimburse state agencies for expenses related to providing paid maternity and adoption leave, with specific agencies required to file claims for reimbursement. It also clarifies the responsibilities of the Office of Juvenile Affairs and ensures that correctional teachers and vocational instructors employed by the Department of Corrections are entitled to paid maternity or adoption leave, aligning their benefits with other state employees. Various technical amendments are included, such as changing terminology and updating references to the Oklahoma Statutes. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, with an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 57-510.6a