The Committee on Ways and Means proposes the following amendment (LC-3645.DG0001H):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 8-11-150(A)(2) and inserting:

  (2) "Eligible state employee" means an employee occupying any percentage of a full-time equivalent position any person employed full-time by this State, its departments, agencies, or institutions. This includes any person employed full-time by a four-year or postgraduate institution of higher education under the control of the State or a technical college supported and under the control of the State by any department, institution, commission, board, or any other unit of government of this State who occupies a position eligible to earn annual leave. This includes any person employed by a four-year or postgraduate institution of higher education under the control of the State or a technical college supported and under the control of the State who occupies a fulltime equivalent, temporary grant or time limited position.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 8-11-150(B) and inserting:

 (B) Eligible state employees who are employed by this State, its departments, agencies, or institutions and who give birth are entitled to receive sixtwelve weeks of paid parental leave. Other eligible state employees who do not give birth are entitled to receive twofour weeks of paid parental leave. An employee's paid parental leave is based on an employee's average workday.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 8-11-150(C)(6) and inserting:

  (6) Paid parental leave must run concurrently with leave taken pursuant to the Family Medical and Leave Act and any other unpaid leave to which the eligible state employee may be entitled as a result of the qualifying event. However, leave granted under this section is with pay and is not annual leave or sick leave and therefore does not deduct from the eligible state employee's accrued leave balance. An eligible state employee does not have to exhaust all other forms of leave before being eligible to take leave granted under this section. However, an employer may require that an employee use paid parental leave before using annual leave if the employee's leave is taken pursuant to the Family Medical and Leave Act. Eligible state employees shall accrue annual and sick leave at the normal rate while on this leave, if applicable.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 8-11-155(A)(2) and (3) and inserting:

  (2) "Eligible state employee" means an employee occupying any percentage of a full-time equivalent positionany person employed by any department, institution, commission, board, or any other unit of government of this State who occupies a position eligible to earn annual leave. This includes any person employed by a four-year or postgraduate institution of higher education under the control of the State or a technical college supported and under the control of the State who occupies a position eligible to earn annual leave.
  (3) "Paid parental leave" means sixtwelve weeks of paid leave at one hundred percent of the eligible state employee's base pay or twofour weeks of paid leave at one hundred percent of the eligible state employee's base pay. Leave for part-time eligible state employees must be on a prorated basis corresponding to the percentage of hours they are normally scheduled to work.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 8-11-155(B) and inserting:

 (B) Eligible state employees who are employed by this State, its departments, agencies, or institutions and are primarily responsible for furnishing the care and nurture of the child, are entitled to sixtwelve weeks of paid parental leave upon the occurrence of a qualifying event. Eligible state employees who are employed by this State, its departments, agencies, or institutions who are not primarily responsible for furnishing the care and nurture of the child, are entitled to twofour weeks of paid parental leave upon the occurrence of a qualifying event. An employee's paid parental leave is based on an employee's average workday.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 8-11-155(C)(6) and inserting:

  (6) Paid parental leave must run concurrently with leave taken pursuant to the Family Medical and Leave Act and any other unpaid leave to which the eligible state employee may be entitled as a result of the qualifying event. However, leave granted under this section is with pay and is not annual leave or sick leave and therefore does not deduct from the eligible state employee's accrued leave balance. An eligible state employee does not have to exhaust all other forms of leave before being eligible to take leave granted under this section. However, an employer may require that an employee use paid parental leave before using annual leave if the employee's leave is taken pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act. Eligible state employees shall accrue annual and sick leave at the normal rate while on this leave, if applicable.

Amend the bill further, by striking SECTION 3 and inserting:

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.This act takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies to qualifying events thereon or thereafter.

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.