HB309 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ginny ShaverRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

State employees, eight weeks paid parental leave provided for, State Personnel Department required to adopt rules

Summary

The bill would create paid parental leave for certain Alabama state employees and require the state to implement rules to administer it, including eight weeks at full pay for birth or adoption with specific use and benefits rules.

What This Bill Does

Eligible state employees would get up to eight weeks of paid parental leave after the birth of a child or the placement of a child for adoption (adoption eligibility allows for children up to three years old at placement). The leave is paid at 100% of base pay and health benefits continue during the leave; employees may use the leave intermittently within 365 days of the qualifying event. There are rules on how the leave can be shared between two parents in the same agency and within a 365‑day period, with special conditions allowing separate eight‑week leaves for both parents if certain health conditions apply, and employees must be restored to their prior or equivalent position after leave, with leave running concurrently with FMLA. The bill also requires the state Personnel Department to adopt implementing rules, agencies to adopt policies, and annual reporting on the program’s use.

Who It Affects

• State employees who are eligible for the new paid parental leave and who would receive up to eight weeks of paid leave at 100% base pay, with health benefits continuing during the leave.
• State agencies and the State Personnel Department, which must implement rules, adopt policies, manage forms and procedures, notify employees, and publish annual reporting on the program.

Key Provisions

• Up to eight weeks of paid parental leave for birth or adoption (adoption available for children three years old or younger at placement).
• Leave is paid at 100% of base pay; benefits continue; no requirement to use other leave and unused leave has no cash value or retirement credit impact; no payout at separation or death; no rollover of unused leave.
• Intermittent or reduced-schedule use allowed; eligible for use within 365 days of the qualifying event; combined eight weeks for two parents in the same agency unless health-condition exceptions apply (eight weeks per parent if the child has a serious health condition or the mother has a serious health condition).
• Employees are restored to their prior or equivalent position after leave; leave runs concurrently with FMLA/Family and Medical Leave Act protections.
• The State Personnel Department must adopt rules; agencies must adopt policies; forms and procedures must be created and notices provided; annual reporting to Legislature and the public is required.
• An expanded leave donation provision allows accrued leave donations to support others for catastrophic or family leave, with limits on amounts and approval requirements; adoption-related donations can provide up to two weeks for each adoption.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Government Administration