1. A. Scope. This regulation applies to all employees, including temporary employees, in the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative Branches of State government, including any unit with an independent personnel system.

2. B. Definitions.

   1. (1) In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

   2. (2) Terms Defined.

      1. (a) “Parental bereavement leave” means paid leave granted to an employee who experiences a stillbirth or death of an employee’s infant or child.
      2. (b) “Parental bereavement leave of absence” means an approved absence of an employee within 60 days after and for the purpose of grieving a stillbirth experienced by the employee, the death of the employee’s infant, or the death of the employee’s child.
      3. (c) “Child” means an adopted, biological, or foster child, a stepchild or a legal ward, who is at least 6 months old and under the age of 27 years.
      4. (d) “Infant” means an adopted, biological, or foster child, a stepchild, or a legal ward, who is under the age of 6 months.
      5. (e) “Stillbirth” means the death of a fetus after 20 weeks or more of pregnancy.

3. C. Use of Leave.

   1. (1) An eligible employee using parental bereavement leave is paid up to a maximum of 8 hours per workday, up to a maximum of 40 hours per workweek.
   2. (2) An employee approved for parental bereavement leave may use up to 10 days (80 hours) of parental bereavement leave within 60 calendar days after the death of the employee’s child.

   3. (3) An employee approved for parental bereavement leave may use up to 60 days (480 hours) of parental bereavement leave within 60 calendar days after:

      1. (a) The employee experiences a stillbirth; or
      2. (b) The death of the employee’s infant.
   4. (4) An employee entitled to and eligible for parental bereavement leave may apply the leave consecutively or intermittently within the allowable timeframe and up to the stated maximum days/hours.
   5. (5) An employee entitled to and eligible for parental bereavement leave will not be required to use any of the employee’s accrued leave for this purpose.

4. D. Administration of the Parental Bereavement Leave of Absence.

   1. (1) An employee may request a parental bereavement leave of absence by submitting a form provided by the Secretary to the employee’s appointing authority or appointing authority designee.
   2. (2) A request shall be accompanied by all documentation required by the form.
   3. (3) The employee’s appointing authority or appointing authority designee shall render a decision on a request for a parental bereavement leave of absence within 5 working days of receiving the request.

5. E. Criteria for Reviewing Requests for Parental Bereavement Leave of Absence.

   1. (1) An appointing authority may grant a request for a parental bereavement leave absence if the employee:

      1. (a) Has submitted the proper form requesting the leave along with the required documentation;
      2. (b) Has not already exceeded the maximum amount of parental bereavement leave allowed; and
      3. (c) The use of the leave occurs within 60 calendar days after the death or stillbirth event.
   2. (2) In general, requests for parental bereavement leave may not be denied; however, the timing of use of parental bereavement leave is subject to the approval of the employee’s appointing authority.
6. F. Administration of Parental Bereavement Leave of Absence. An employee who is approved for a parental bereavement leave of absence is required to properly designate the period of absence using the leave codes provided for this purpose in the time-keeping system of record.

Authority: State Personnel and Pensions Article, §§4-106, 9-101, 9-302, and 9-1108, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: March 23, 1998 (25:6 Md. R. 490)

For a history of State Personnel Regulations before February 12, 1997, see the prior version of COMAR Title 06 or contact the Maryland State Archives for assistance.

Regulation .02 amended effective August 24, 1998 (25:17​ Md. R. 1361)

Regulation .03 amended effective October 23, 2017 (44:21 Md. R. 985)

Regulation .04E amended effective November 24, 2014 (41:23 Md. R. 1376)

Regulation .04H amended effective November 14, 2022 (49:23 Md. R. 997

Regulation .05I adopted as an emergency provision effective September 16, 2009 (36:21 Md. R. 1588); emergency status expired March 15, 2010

Regulation .05I adopted effective May 31, 2010 (37:11 Md. R. 766)

Regulation .06 amended effective August 24, 1998 (25:17 Md. R. 1361); July 1, 2000 (27:12 Md. R. 1142); October 30, 2000 (27:21 Md. R. 1977)

Regulation .08C amended effective August 24, 1998 (25:17 Md. R. 1361)

Regulation .20 amended effective May 29, 2000 (27:10 Md. R. 968)

Regulation .21 amended effective August 24, 1998 (25:17 Md. R. 1361); July 1, 2000 (27:12 Md. R. 1142)

Regulation .22 amended effective July 1, 2000 (27:12 Md. R. 1142); December 25, 2000 (27:25 Md. R. 2284)

Regulation .22D amended effective July 21, 2014 (41:14 Md. R. 799)

Regulation .22J amended effective September 15, 2003 (30:18 Md. R. 1260); September 24, 2018 (45:19 Md. R. 866)

Regulation .23 amended effective July 1, 2000 (27:12 Md. R. 1142)

Regulation .25 adopted effective March 19, 2001 (28:5 Md. R. 552)

Regulations .25—.27 recodified to Regulations .26—.28 effective March 19, 2001 (28:5 Md. R. 552)

Regulation .29 adopted effective December 17, 2018 (45:25 Md. R. 1207)

Regulation .30 adopted effective August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 812)

Regulation .31 adopted effective March 16, 2026 (53:5 Md. R. 246)