Section 6-17-122 - Paid maternity leave - Definitions

(a) Education personnel employed by a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school that elect to participate under this section shall be eligible for up to twelve (12) weeks of paid maternity leave.(b) As used in this section: (1) 'Cost-sharing' means joint, equal responsibility for the cost shared between the State of Arkansas and a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school that employs an individual considered education personnel under this section;(2) 'Education personnel' means an individual employed full-time by a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school in Arkansas for more than one (1) year; and(3) 'Maternity leave' means partially or fully compensated time away from work within the first twelve (12) weeks following the:(A) Birth of a biological child to an individual considered education personnel under this section; or(B) Placement of an adoptive child in the home of an individual considered education personnel under this section.(c)(1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall create and sign a standard cost-sharing agreement for paid maternity leave expenses between the division and a public

nder this section.(c)(1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall create and sign a standard cost-sharing agreement for paid maternity leave expenses between the division and a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school that elects to participate under this section.(2) At a minimum, the cost-sharing agreement required under subdivision (c)(1) of this section shall obligate the state and the public school district or open-enrollment public charter school to each pay fifty percent (50%) of incurred costs for approved paid maternity leave.(3) The division shall promulgate rules outlining:(A) Management of a cost-sharing agreement required under subdivision (c)(1) of this section;(B) Reimbursement processes; and(C) Other related procedures required to implement this section.Added by Act 2023, No. 237,§ 21, eff. 3/8/2023.