Present law generally grants a teacher, principal, supervisor, or other individual required to hold a valid license of qualification for employment in the public schools of this state and who has been employed full time with a local education agency or public charter school for at least 12 consecutive months ("eligible employee") absence from work with pay for a period of time equal to six work weeks after the employee's adoption of a newly placed minor child upon the employee giving 30-days' notice to the employee's LEA or public charter school. However, if an employee learns of the adoption of the employee's child less than 30 days in advance of the adoption, then the employee must give notice of the adoption to the employee's LEA or public charter school as soon as reasonably possible to be eligible to receive such pay. Present law prohibits an eligible employee from receiving more than six work weeks of such paid leave within a 12-month period. The six work weeks of such paid leave do not need to be consecutively taken as long as the paid leave is used within 12 months of the employee's adoption of a newly placed minor child. This bill clarifies that "adoption," as used above, includes that period of time beginning with the filing of an adoption petition and the initial placement of a minor child within the residence of a prospective adoptive parent pursuant to a court-ordered parental power of attorney or guardianship or custodial order until the issuance of a final order of adoption by the court.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 8-50-814(a), 8-50-814