LITTLE ROCK (KFSM) — An Arkansas democrat filed a bill Monday (Dec. 12) proposing six weeks of paid maternity leave for state employees.
The bill filed by Rep. Clarke Tucker, D- District 35, applies to full- and part-time employees who have been an employee at the following for more than a year:
- state agency
- General Assembly
- Bureau of Legislative Research
- Arkansas Legislative Audit
- Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
- Supreme Court
- Court of Appeals
- State constitutional officer
- Governor
- Lieutenant Governor
- Secretary of State
- Attorney General
- Auditor of State
- Treasurer of State
- Commissioner of State Lands
The mother will be able to collect up to $500 a week for up to six weeks of maternity leave. The employee will be eligible for all or part of that paid maternity leave within the first 12 weeks after the birth of the child. Maternity leave can be use in combination with unpaid maternity leave, earned sick leave, earned annual leave, catastrophic leave and leave without pay.
The birth of a child does not include the birth of an adoptive or foster child.
The 2017 legislative session begins Jan. 9.
