AR HB1046

Establishes 6 weeks of paid maternity leave for female state employees during the first 12 weeks after childbirth, paid at the employee's full salary.

Provides paid adoptive and foster leave of 6 weeks if the child is less than 12 weeks old, or 2 weeks if the child is older than 12 weeks old.

Applies to state employees employed for more than one year by state agencies, the General Assembly, courts, constitutional officers, and other specified state entities.

Requires permanent employees to continue employment for at least 4 times the length of paid leave taken; employees who voluntarily terminate early must repay the cost of benefits in proportion to unfulfilled service obligations.

Allows employees to use paid leave before, after, or intermittently with other earned leave such as sick leave, annual leave, and compensatory leave; unused paid leave expires at the end of the benefit period.