NC S839

Effective July 1, 2024, the State Human Resources Commission must adopt rules providing permanent, probationary, and time-limited state employees with paid leave for pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, failed fertility treatments, failed adoption, or failed surrogacy arrangements.

Employees receive a minimum of 56 hours of paid leave for pregnancy loss, available without exhausting sick and vacation leave or affecting retirement benefits.

Part-time state employees receive a prorated amount of paid leave on an equitable basis.

The law applies to state agencies, departments, institutions (including UNC), public school employees, and community college employees; legislative and judicial branches must adopt separate parental and pregnancy loss leave policies.

$1,800,000 is appropriated from the General Fund for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to fund the paid leave program.