SB125 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew JonesSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Family leave and adoption, reduce period for relinquishment of parental rights for child placed for adoption from five days to four days, provisions for family leave time for adoptive parents and biological parents to care for child in certain cases, Secs. 16-25-11.12, 26-10A-13, 36-26-35.2, 36-26-36.2 am'd.

Summary

SB 125 shortens the relinquishment window to four days and expands family leave and related benefits for birth and adoptive parents in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

It reduces the time a mother may withdraw consent or relinquishment for adoption to four days in all cases. It creates 12 weeks of family leave for the birth and care of a child within the first year after birth, and for an adopted child within one year of placement, with 30 days' notice for foreseeable placements. It requires employers with certain maternity benefits to offer equivalent benefits to adoptive parents, allows state employees and Teachers' Retirement System members to purchase up to one year of service credit for time spent on family leave, and expands leave-donation rules to cover adoptive and maternity leave.

Who It Affects

• Eligible employees who would take birth or adoptive family leave and receive up to 12 weeks of leave and potential paid equivalence.
• State employees and Teachers' Retirement System members who can purchase service credit for family leave and participate in expanded leave-donation provisions.

Key Provisions

• Reduce the withdrawal window for consent or relinquishment from five days to four days in all cases.
• Establish 12 weeks of family leave for the birth and care of a child (within the first year after birth) and for an adopted child (within one year of placement), with 30 days' notice for foreseeable placements.
• Require employers that provide enhanced maternity benefits to offer equivalent benefits to adoptive parents.
• Allow state employees and Teachers' Retirement System members to purchase up to one year of service credit for time spent on family leave.
• Expand leave donation programs to allow donation of accrued and unused annual, sick, or compensatory leave for maternity or adoptive leave, with supervisory oversight and limits.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Adoption