AK HB193

Establishes a paid parental leave program in Alaska allowing eligible employees to take 8-26 weeks of leave to care for a child within 12 months of birth, adoption, foster placement, or legal guardianship appointment, with benefits beginning January 1, 2027

Funds the program through a 0.15% employee contribution and optional 0.20% employer contribution on wages, deposited into a new parental leave fund account in the general fund

Requires employees to have earned at least $2,500 in wages during at least two calendar quarters of their base period to qualify, with weekly benefit amounts calculated using the same method as unemployment benefits

Provides employment protections including the right to return to the same or equivalent position, maintenance of health insurance during leave, and prohibition of employer retaliation or discrimination for using the benefit

Increases unemployment benefit amounts and raises the dependent allowance from $24 to $72 per week (maximum $216), with automatic annual adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index for urban Alaska