LITTLE ROCK (KFSM) – A legislator from Little Rock has filed a bill that, if passed, would allow paid maternity leave in Arkansas for state employees.
Rep. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, filed the bill, also known as HB 1426, on Monday (Feb. 23) at 11:29 a.m., according to legislative records.
Under HB 1426, “paid maternity leave” is defined as “leave with pay for an employee for the birth of the employee’s child.”
The maternity leave would only be for workers appointed or employed in a position of state service for more than one year.
Workers would have to apply in writing for it, and any state employee granted paid maternity leave shall be paid his or her salary in the amount of up to $500 each week for six consecutive weeks of maternity leave, the bill states.
If the bill passes, employees granted paid maternity leave would use those days off before the following:
- Unpaid maternity leave
- Earned sick leave
- Earned annual leave
- Earned compensatory leave
- Catastrophic leave
- Leave without pay
Employees eligible for paid maternity leave may choose not to use it and instead may use other eligible time off.
“The paid maternity leave shall be used concurrently with any unpaid maternity leave that is granted under federal or state law,” the bill states.
To see a copy of the bill, click here.
