OK HB1601

Establishes the ARCHER Act to provide six (6) weeks of paid maternity leave for eligible full-time employees of public school districts, technology center schools, State Department of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Corrections, and Office of Juvenile Affairs who have worked at least one year and 1,250 hours in the preceding twelve-month period.

Allows employees to extend maternity leave beyond six weeks by using accrued sick leave for recovery from childbirth, bonding with a newborn, or caring for a newborn, with no additional employer approval required if sufficient sick leave is available.

Limits sick leave extension to six weeks unless a licensed medical professional certifies additional leave is medically necessary, allowing up to twelve (12) weeks total combined with Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave.

Requires employees to notify employers in accordance with FMLA when using sick leave to extend maternity leave, with FMLA leave running concurrently with the paid sick leave extension.

Becomes effective November 1, 2025, and requires the Legislature to appropriate adequate funding to the Public School Paid Maternity Leave Revolving Fund, or the State Board of Education must allocate funds from its appropriations to fully fund the program.