1. (a) This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025.

2. (b) For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings unless otherwise indicated by context:

   1. (1) APPLICABLE EMPLOYING AGENCY. A state entity, local education agency, or the Alabama Community College System or any of its institutions that employs an eligible employee.
   2. (2) BASE PAY. The eligible employee’s current, ordinary rate of pay as reasonably determined by the applicable employing agency.

   3. (3) ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE. Any of the following:

      1. a. A state employee who has been employed in any of the following categories for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the occurrence of a qualifying event:

         1. 1. Legislative personnel, officers, and employees, including personnel, officers, and employees of the Legislative Services Agency, as set forth in Section 36-6-1(a)(2).
         2. 2. Court officials and employees of the Unified Judicial System as set forth in Section 36-6-1(a)(3).
         3. 3. Employees of the Administrative Office of Courts as set forth in Section 36-6-1(a)(4).
         4. 4. Hourly personnel considered to be permanent employees as set forth in Section 36-6-1(a)(5).
         5. 5. Members of the unclassified service as set forth in Section 36-26-10(c) or any employees otherwise designated unclassified by law.
         6. 6. Members of the classified service as set forth in Section 36-26-10(d).
         7. 7. Members of the exempt service as set forth in Section 36-26-10(b)(3),(b)(8), (b)(10), and (b)(11), and any member of the exempt service who accrues leave pursuant to an authorizing statute.
      2. b. A certified or noncertified employee of a local education agency who has been employed by any local education agency in this state for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the occurrence of a qualifying event. For the purposes of this chapter, the term “local education agency” includes the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.
      3. c. An employee of the Alabama Community College System or any of the educational institutions under its authority and control, who has been employed by the system or an educational institution for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the occurrence of a qualifying event.
   4. (4) HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL. A physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or midwife who is licensed to practice in his or her respective field in the State of Alabama.
   5. (5) MISCARRIAGE. The loss of an unborn child at or after twelve weeks gestation which is confirmed in writing by a healthcare professional. The term does not include an abortion as defined in Section 26-23H-3 unless the abortion is necessary to prevent a serious health risk to the unborn child’s mother as permitted under Section 26-23H-4.
   6. (6) PARENTAL LEAVE. Paid leave provided to an eligible employee in connection with a qualifying event pursuant to this chapter.
   7. (7) QUALIFYING EVENT. Any of the events that entitle an eligible employee to parental leave pursuant to Section 36-6A-2.
   8. (8) STILLBIRTH. The loss of an unborn child at or after 20 weeks gestation which is confirmed in writing by a healthcare professional. The term does not include an abortion as defined in Section 26-23H-3 unless the abortion is necessary to prevent a serious health risk to the unborn child’s mother as permitted under Section 26-23H-4.

(Act 2025-81, §§1,2.)