Committee backs 6 weeks of paid parental leave for K–12 employees, sponsor says implementation issues will go to finance

The Senate Education Committee advanced SB 157, a bill to provide six weeks of paid parental leave to eligible K–12 employees, after adopting a package of amendments meant to clarify coverage and administration.

Sen. Jenkins, the bill sponsor, described amendments that expand eligibility beyond teachers to include all K–12 employees, specify accrual and usage rules, create a 12-month waiting period between leave requests, require a 30-day notice when feasible, and strengthen anti-retaliation protections. "These amendments are basically seeking to provide 6 weeks of leave at 100% of the base pay, expands to include all K through 12 employees," the sponsor said during closing remarks.

Advocates testified extensively in support: the Louisiana Public Health Institute cited links between paid leave and improved maternal and infant outcomes and teacher retention; Invest in Louisiana presented an estimate of $12.5 million in potential savings from reduced turnover; the Louisiana Federation of Teachers recounted educator stories about financial hardship following childbirth. Jeannie Donovan, director of public health and policy for the City of New Orleans, told the committee that the city's experience with a paid-leave policy produced "only positive impacts, increased staff retention, improved and reduced turnover." Several red cards indicated opposition from local school boards and the Louisiana School Boards Association, but the committee moved SB 157 favorably as amended and said fiscal and finance issues would be handled in subsequent committees.

The bill was reported favorably; committee members noted that remaining fiscal questions will be addressed in the Finance Committee.