The bill, H.B. No. 4704, introduces a paid parental leave policy for public school employees in Texas, allowing full-time employees of school districts or open-enrollment charter schools to take paid leave following the birth or adoption of a child. The policy mandates eight consecutive weeks of paid leave for primary caregivers and four weeks for spouses of primary caregivers. To qualify, employees must have been employed full-time for at least 12 months and must take the leave concurrently with any leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Additionally, the bill requires that employees are not obligated to exhaust their vacation or sick leave before utilizing the paid parental leave.

Furthermore, the bill amends the eligibility criteria for free prekindergarten programs, adding that children of public school teachers are now eligible. It also establishes a Healthy Families Allotment, which entitles school districts to an annual allotment equal to the compensation of employees who took paid parental leave. The provisions of the bill will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, with specific sections taking effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 29.153 (Education Code 29)