AR HB1006

Requires covered employers with 50 or more employees to provide 12 weeks of paid maternity leave to eligible employees if the employer covers abortion or abortion-related travel expenses for employees.

Defines eligible employees as those employed with a covered employer for at least 12 months and classified as full-time employees who are enrolled in the employer's health benefit plan.

Maternity leave must be paid at either 100% of the eligible employee's salary or as a 12-week average weekly pay amount.

Leave applies only to birth mothers and begins immediately following the birth of the employee's child.

Employers may combine paid maternity leave with other forms of paid leave but employees cannot combine multiple paid maternity leave benefits; employers with more generous maternity benefits are not restricted to the 12-week minimum.