HB1426 Summary

• Establishes paid maternity leave for female state employees who have been continuously employed for more than one year by eligible state entities including state agencies, the General Assembly, Bureau of Legislative Research, Division of Legislative Audit, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and state constitutional officers.

• Provides eligible employees with paid leave of up to $500 per week for six consecutive weeks following live birth of an employee's child.

• Requires employees to use paid maternity leave before accessing unpaid maternity leave, sick leave, annual leave, compensatory leave, catastrophic leave, or leave without pay; employees may opt to use other available leave instead.

• Mandates permanent employees continue employment for a statutorily required period or at least four times the length of their maternity leave; employees who voluntarily terminate early must repay the cost of paid maternity benefits proportionally, with exceptions for involuntary termination or serious health conditions.

• Excludes institutions of higher education from the paid maternity leave requirements and allows paid maternity leave to run concurrently with any unpaid maternity leave under federal or state law.