HB477 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Debbie Wood

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Employees of local boards of education; twelve weeks of paid parental leave following birth of child, placement of child for adoption, miscarriage, or stillbirth provided for; State Board of Education authorized to adopt rules

Summary

HB477 would provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave for eligible employees of local boards of education, with job protections and health coverage during the leave.

What This Bill Does

It would grant eligible local board of education employees 12 workweeks of paid parental leave starting January 1, 2025, for the birth, adoption placement, miscarriage, or stillbirth within 12 months of the event. Employers must continue compensation and health coverage during the leave and restore the employee to the same or an equivalent position on return, without loss of prior benefits. Employers may recover health care premiums if the employee does not return or leaves within two years. The State Board of Education and local boards must adopt rules and policies to implement the leave, and local funding for this program would be subject to a constitutional 2/3 vote requirement unless approved by the local entity or funded by the Legislature.

Who It Affects

• Eligible employees of local boards of education (certified or noncertified) who have at least five years of employment and who experience a birth, adoption placement, miscarriage, or stillbirth.
• Local boards of education and the State Board of Education as employers and rule-makers, who must implement the leave, manage payroll and health coverage during leave, and navigate potential local funding requirements.

Key Provisions

• Eligible employee must have at least five years of employment with any local board of education in Alabama; eligible events include birth, adoption placement, miscarriage, or stillbirth (with health care professional confirmation).
• Entitlement is 12 workweeks of paid parental leave, available beginning January 1, 2025, to be taken within 12 months of the qualifying event.
• During leave, the employee must receive compensation and health care coverage as if they were still working, and must be restored to the same or an equivalent position on return; no loss of benefits accrued before leave.
• Employers may recover their share of health insurance premiums if the employee fails to return to work or leaves within two years after starting the leave; leave runs concurrently with FMLA, and may be used with FMLA to the extent allowed by law.
• Leave cannot be taken intermittently or on a reduced schedule unless both the employee and employer agree.
• The State Board of Education and each local board of education must adopt rules and policies to implement the program.
• This bill would require a new or increased local expenditure, triggering Section 111.05 of the Alabama Constitution, which may require a 2/3 vote for local approval unless the local entity approves or the Legislature provides funds.

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

Subjects

Education