This bill amends existing legislation regarding paid maternity leave for school employees in Oklahoma. It expands eligibility for paid maternity leave to include full-time employees of any public school district or technology center school district in the state who have been employed for at least one year and have worked a minimum of 1,250 hours in the preceding twelve months. The bill specifies that these eligible employees are entitled to six weeks of paid maternity leave following the birth of their child, which must be used immediately after childbirth. Additionally, the bill allows employees to utilize accrued sick leave to extend their maternity leave beyond the initial six weeks, provided they notify their employer in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

The bill also includes provisions for funding, stating that the Legislature must appropriate adequate funds to the Public School Paid Maternity Leave Revolving Fund to support this leave. If sufficient funding is not appropriated, the State Board of Education is required to allocate funds from its budget to ensure that paid maternity leave is fully funded. The bill empowers various state boards to create rules for implementing these provisions. It is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage and approval.