Committee approves actuarial study to estimate cost of statewide paid family leave

Senator Dossett told the Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Committee on a request to strike title and asked for a due-pass recommendation on Senate Bill 254, which would name the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness as the affected agency and authorize an actuarial study of a statewide paid family leave medical program.

The study, Dossett said, would be conducted by a qualified third party and paid from funds already identified in the Partnership for School Readiness budget. “The Partnership for School Readiness, who has the funds available to conduct an actuarial study with a qualified third party,” Dossett said, adding later that “it'll cost somewhere between $60,000 and $70,000.”

Dossett told members that the study would provide a cost estimate only and would not require the Legislature to adopt a paid family leave program. “Whether or not we have a paid family leave program in the state of Oklahoma will still be entirely up to us,” Dossett said. He said the actuarial result would inform future legislative decisions.

Chairwoman Thompson granted the request to strike title and the committee voted to give the bill a due pass recommendation. The clerk called the roll; Senate Bill 254 received 7 ayes and 0 nays and was declared passed.

The bill’s sponsor and staff said the Partnership for School Readiness’ budget contains the funds needed to complete the study. No changes to law or implementation were adopted as part of the committee action; the committee approved only the study funding and referral.