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Texas Senate advances paid parental leave for state workers. We explain in 60 seconds.

The bill by Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, and other bipartisan co-authors, guarantees state employees paid leave after childbirth or adoption. The Texas Senate has unanimously approved a bill that would grant state employees 30 days of paid leave for childbirth or adoption. The bill would apply to employees working for an agency, board, commission or department within the executive branch of state government. It would also allow employees whose spouse gave birth 10 days ofpaid leave, and not require employees to use all their paid or sick leave before using parental paid leave. If approved, it would be the first time state employees would be guaranteed paid leave in the case of the birth or adoption of a child. The House and House committees have also approved similar proposals, including a proposal to expand Medicaid to provide mothers continued medical assistance for 12 months after childbirth.

Texas Senate advances paid parental leave for state workers. We explain in 60 seconds.

Pubblicato : 12 mesi fa di Hogan Gore in Politics

A bipartisan proposal to grant state employees 30 days of paid leave for childbirth or adoption passed the Texas Senate on Wednesday with unanimous support.

• Allow 30 days of paid parental leave in the case of childbirth, adoption or birth by a surrogate.

• Apply to members of the Employees Retirement System of Texas and employees working for an agency, board, commission or department within the executive branch of state government.

• Allow employees whose spouse gave birth 10 days of paid leave.

• Not require employees to use all their paid or sick leave before using parental paid leave.

If the Legislature approves this bill by Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, and a handful of Democratic and Republican co-authors, it would be the first time state employees would be guaranteed paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child.

"Under current law, state employees are granted no paid leave for the birth of a child," Nichols said before the Senate approved the bill. "Paid parental leave will help the state attract and retain talent while combatting the workforce shortage."

Making edits to the Family and Medical Leave Act, the bill creates an exception so new parents will be eligible for 30 days paid leave without using previously earned or accredited time off, which in other cases must be used before additional leave time is granted.

An employee whose spouse gave birth would be eligible for 10 days of paid leave.

Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, a co-author of the bill, rose on the Senate floor to thank Nichols for moving a "tremendous a bill that is going to be an incredible help to all of our state employees."

Sens. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston; Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham; Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas; José Menéndez, D-San Antonio; Royce West, D-Dallas; Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo; Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills; and César Blanco, D-El Paso, are sponsoring the legislation.

"As one of the largest employers in the state, Texas should be a leader in supporting mothers and their babies," Nichols said. "Long term, this policy will promote maternal, mental and physical health and reduce health care costs for the state while promoting healthy child development."

Last week, the bill passed from the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce unanimously by an 11-0 vote.

In the House, a similar proposal would grant 60 days of paid leave under the same circumstances laid out in the Senate legislation.

House Bill 1580 from Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on State Affairs on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the House Select Committee on Health Care Reform approved a proposal to expand Medicaid to provide mothers continued medical assistance for 12 months after childbirth.

The same select committee on Tuesday also approved HB 12, a House priority bill with 38 total authors, which would extend six months of medical care to those who experience an involuntary miscarriage.

Additionally, Rep. Morales Shaw, D-Houston, has filed HB 3799, which would grant 10 days of unpaid leave immediately following a miscarriage. The bill was referred to the House Committee on International Relations and Economic Development on Monday but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.


Temi: Texas

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