In Alabama, the Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act has successfully passed through the House. The Act, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figure, D-Mobile, and Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, opens the doors for teachers in Shelby County and other state employees to avail of paid parental leave. Once this bill receives the signature from Gov. Kay Ivey, paid parental leave will become an entitlement for state employees starting July 1.

Previously, Alabama did not offer paid parental leave to state employees or local education agency employees. However, Act SB199 changes this by providing female full-time state employees and educators up to eight weeks of paid parental leave for the events of birth, stillbirth, and miscarriage, and for the adoption of a child three years or younger. Male full-time state employees and educators can also receive two weeks of paid parental leave for similar events.

The Act does require employees to agree in writing to remain in employment for at least eight weeks after their leave, with exceptions made for severe health conditions. The bill has been widely endorsed, with figures like Gov. Ivey backing it as a necessary resource to support families and state employees.

If you have additional inquiries related to the Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act, it may be best to contact a representative. On a related note, employees in California may find it beneficial to understand how to contact their relevant authorities. California has a similar Paid Family Leave (PFL) program. To get a hold of the Paid Family Leave, they can reach out to them directly by phone or through their website. You can also check eddcaller.com for additional resources and contact information.