MO SB520

Foster and adoptive parents employed by Missouri state government, departments, agencies, or political subdivisions may use accrued sick leave, annual leave, or unpaid leave equivalent to biological parents' leave for arranging placement or caring for the child after placement.

State departments and agencies must establish leave sharing programs; political subdivisions may establish such programs, allowing employees to donate annual leave, overtime, or compensatory time to employees arranging foster or adoptive placements, with possible transfers between departments with chief administrative officer approval.

Donated leave may only be used for foster or adoption-related purposes including appointments with officials, court proceedings, required travel, training, licensure, state-ordered care time, and other activities necessary for the foster care or adoption to proceed.

Recipients must use all other available paid leave before using donated leave, and all donations must be completely voluntary with no coercion, threats, intimidation, or financial inducements permitted.

Stepparents, as defined in section 453.015, receive the same leave rights for stepchild care, and the Commissioner of Administration may promulgate rules to implement these provisions subject to chapter 536 review procedures.