StrickenHall languageof wouldthe beHouse deletedof fromRepresentatives and95th underlinedGeneralAssembly language- wouldRegular beSession, added2025 toAmendment presentForm law.______________________________________________________________________ Subtitle of House Bill 1017 TOAMEND THE LAW REGARDING PAID MATERNITY LEAVE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES;AND TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARYAND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO PAY FOR INCURRED COSTS FORAPPROVED PAID MATERNITY LEAVE.

Act______________________________________________________________________ 904Amendment ofNo. the Regular Session State ofArkansas As Engrossed:

H1/16/253 H1/23/25to H3/31/25House 95thBill GeneralAssembly1017 ABillAmend RegularHouse Session,Bill 20251017 HOUSEas BILLengrossed 1017H1/23/25 5(version: By:

RepresentativesA.1/23/25 09:57:04AM):

Collins,Add Springer,Representative GonzalesBrooks Worthen,AND Barnett,Add BrooksSenator By:B.

SenatorDavis B.AND Page 1, line 29, delete "(a)" and substitute "(a)(1)" AND Page 1, line 33, delete "(1) Has" and substitute "(A) Has" AND Page 1, line 35, delete "(2) Is" and substitute "(B) Is" AND *.TNL276* TNL276 - 03-19-2025 06:49:15 Page 1 of 3 Page 2, line 1, delete "(A) Birth" and substitute "(i) Birth" AND Page 2, line 2, delete "(B) Placement" and substitute "(ii) Placement" AND Page 2, line 4, delete "(C) Foster" and substitute "(iii) Foster" AND Page 2, line 6, delete "(3) Has" and substitute "(C) Has" AND Page 2, delete line 7, and substitute the following:

Davis"year 8from ForAnActthe Totime Beof Entitledapplication. AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW REGARDING PAID MATERNITY LEAVE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES;

TO(2) REQUIREAn THEemployee DIVISIONshall OFnot ELEMENTARYbe ANDeligible SECONDARYfor EDUCATIONan TOadditional PAYtwelve FOR(12) ALLweeks INCURREDof COSTSpaid FORmaternity APPROVEDleave PAIDunder MATERNITYthis LEAVEsection FORfollowing PUBLICthe SCHOOLadoption EMPLOYEES;of a child if the employee took twelve (12) weeks of paid maternity leave under this section after the initial foster placement of the same child in the employee's home." AND Page 2, delete line 30, and substitute the following:

AND"(2) FORAt OTHERa PURPOSES.minimum, the cost-sharing The agreement required under" TNL276 - 03-19-2025 06:49Amendment No.

Subtitle3 TOto AMENDHouse THEBill LAW1017 REGARDINGPage PAID2 MATERNITYof LEAVE3 FORThe PUBLICAmendment SCHOOLwas EMPLOYEES;read ________________________________________________________________________________ By:

ANDRepresentative TOA. REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION TO PAY FOR INCURRED COSTS FOR APPROVED PAID MATERNITY LEAVE.

BECollins ITTNL/TNL ENACTED- BY03-19-2025 THE06:49:15 GENERAL_________________________ ASSEMBLYTNL276 OFChief THEClerk STATETNL276 OF- ARKANSAS:03-19-2025 06:49:15 Amendment No.

SECTION3 1.to House Bill 1017 Page 3 of 3

Arkansas Code § 6-17-122 is amended to read as follows:

6-17-122.

Paid maternity leave — Definitions.

(a)(1) Education personnel employed by An employee of a public school district or an 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 when the employee:

(A) Has been employed by a public school district or an open- enrollment public charter school for one (1) year or more;

(B) Is female, and the leave is to be used for maternity purposes following the:

*TNL026* 03-31-2025 12:22:16 TNL026 As Engrossed:

H1/16/25 H1/23/25 H3/31/25 HB1017 (i) Birth of the employee's biological child;

(ii) Placement of an adopted child under one (1) year of age in the home of the employee;

or (iii) Foster placement of an infant under one (1) year of age;

and (C) Has not been disciplined for any leave abuse during the past year from the time of application.

(2) An employee shall not be eligible for an additional twelve (12) weeks of paid maternity leave under this section following the adoption of a child if the employee took twelve (12) weeks of paid maternity leave under this section after the initial foster placement of the same child in the employee's home.

(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)(1) “Education personnel” "Employee" means an individual employed full-time by a public school district or an open-enrollment public charter school in Arkansas for more than one (1) year;

and (3)(2) “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 employee;

or (B) Placement of an adoptive adopted child under one (1) year of age in the home of an individual considered education personnel under this section employee;

or (C) Foster placement of an infant under one (1) year of age in the home of an employee.

(c)(1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall create and sign a standard cost-sharing agreement for paid maternity leave expenses between paid by the division and to a public school district or an open- enrollment public charter school that elects to participate under this section.

(2) At a minimum, the cost-sharing The agreement required under subdivision (c)(1) of this section shall obligate the state and the public 03-31-2025 12:22:16 TNL026 As Engrossed:

H1/16/25 H1/23/25 H3/31/25 HB1017 school district or open-enrollment public charter school to each pay fifty percent (50%) division to pay one hundred percent (100%) of incurred costs for approved paid maternity leave.

(3) The division shall promulgate rules outlining:

(A) Management of a cost-sharing the agreement required under subdivision (c)(1) of this section;

(B) Reimbursement processes;

and (C) Other related procedures required to implement this section.

/s/A.