SB 157 — SCHOOLS: Provides for paid parental leave for eligible employees. (gov sig) (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

(b)Theemployee'srighttoparentalleavebenefitsunderthisSectionand Pagethe 5terms ofunder 10which Coding:it may be used.

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-115 RE-REENGROSSED SB NO.

157 the terms under which it may be used.

(e)That discrimination and retaliatoryactions against an employee,for requesting,applying for,orusing parentalleavebenefits,areprohibitedparentalleavebenefits,areprohibitedunder under Subsection B of this Section.

D.Page 5 of 8 Coding:

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SB NO.

157 ENROLLED D.

F.(1) TheSubject to the availability of funds in a fiscal year, the department shall reimburse an LEA, from the special fund created pursuant to R.S.

If any provision of this Section or the application thereof is held invalid as to any person or circumstance, such invalidity shall not affect other Pageprovisions 6or applications of 10this Coding:Section which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications.

§1214.1.

Paid Parental Leave For Educators Fund A.Thereisherebyestablishedinthestatetreasury,asaspecialfund,the PaidParentalLeaveforEducatorsFund,hereinafterreferredtointhisSection as the "fund".

B.AfterallocationofmoneytotheBondSecurityandRedemptionFund as provided in Article VII, Section (9)(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, the Page 6 of 8 Coding:

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157 provisionsENROLLED ortreasurer applicationsshall ofdeposit thisinto Sectionthe whichfund canany bemonies givendesignated effectfor without the invalidfund provisionsand orreceivedbythestatetreasurerfromdonations, applications.gifts,grants,appropriations,or any other source of revenue.

§1214.1.

Paid Parental Leave For Educators Fund A.Thereisherebyestablishedinthestatetreasury,asaspecialfund,the PaidParentalLeaveForEducatorsFund,hereinafterreferredtoasthe"fund".

B.

Any money transferred, donated, or appropriated to the fund by the legislature shall be deposited into the fund.

AllMonies unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund atshall thebeinvestedin endthesamemanneras of thefiscalyearshallremaininthefund.Themoniesinthefund shallbeinvested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in thethestategeneralfund.Interestearnedoninvestmentofmoniesinthefundshall statebe generaldeposited fund,into and interestearned on the investmentof monies in thefund shall becreditedto the fund.

D.All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund.

SubjectD.MoniesinthefundshallbeappropriatedtotheLouisianaDepartment toof anEducation appropriationto byfund the legislature,costs moniesassociated inwith thereimbursing funda shalllocal beeducation utilizedagency for substitute employees to fundfill the costsposition associatedof withan reimbursingeligible LEAsemployee foron substituteemployeestofillthepositionofaneligibleemployeeonpaidparentalpaid parental leave pursuant to R.S.

* * * PageSection2.R.S.17:48,500.2(A)(1)(b),1202(A)(1)(b),1206.2(A)(1)(b),and1211are 7hereby ofrepealed. 10 Coding:

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-115 RE-REENGROSSED SB NO.

157 Section2.R.S.17:48,500.2(A)(1)(b),1202(A)(1)(b),1206.2(A)(1)(b),and1211are hereby repealed.

SectionPage 5.7 of 8 Coding:

This Act shall become effective upon signature bythe governor or, if not signedbythegovernor,uponexpirationofthetimeforbillstobecomelawwithoutsignature by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana.

If vetoed bythe governorand subsequentlyapproved bythe legislature, this Act shall become effective on the dayfollowing such approval.

The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared bySenate Legislative Services.

The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] DIGEST SB 157 Re-Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Jenkins Proposed law creates the "Parental Leave For Educators Act".

Proposed law provides for definitions and requires that every city, parish, and other local public school boards allow the appointment of substitute teachers when a teacher is on parental leave under the provisions of proposed law.

Proposed law prohibits an appointed substitute teacher from acquiring tenure rights or privileges, unless the substitute has been appointed to fill a regular vacancy and has the necessary qualifications.

Proposed law provides that an eligible employee who takes fewer than six weeks, or 240 hours,ofpaidparentalleavemustbeentitledtoreservehisremainingweeksofpaidparental leave for use at a subsequentlyoccurring qualifying event.

Proposed law provides that a full-time employee must be compensated at the rate of 100% of his base pay pursuant to present law.

Proposed law further provides that a part-time employeemustbecompensatedattherateof100%ofhisbasepayforaperiodnottoexceed six weeks based upon a prorated basis with the percentage of hours the employee normally works.

Proposed law allows both parents, if they are eligible employees, paid parental leave to be taken concurrently, consecutively, or at a different time as the other eligible employee.

Proposed law prohibits requiring the use of an eligible employee's sick, annual, or other accrued leave before taking paid parental leave.

Proposed law further provides that paid parental leave must run concurrently with leave requested under the Family and Medical Leave Act "FMLA".

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157 ProposedENROLLED lawSection provides5. that the granting of parental leave cannot affect any of the tenure rights the employee has acquired under present law.

ProposedlawprovidesthateachLEAmustprovideinwritingtoeachemployeeuponhiringThis andAct annuallyshall thereafterbecome alleffective upon signature bythe governor or, if not signedbythegovernor,uponexpirationofthetimeforbillstobecomelawwithoutsignature by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the following:Constitution of Louisiana.

(1)If Itsvetoed policiesbythe andgovernorand procedures.subsequentlyapprovedbythe legislature, this Act shall become effective on the dayfollowing such approval.

(2)PRESIDENT TheOF employee'sTHE rightSENATE toSPEAKER parentalOF leaveTHE benefitsHOUSE andOF theREPRESENTATIVES termsGOVERNOR underOF whichTHE itSTATE maybeOF used.LOUISIANA APPROVED:

(3)Page The8 amount of parental8 leaveCoding: benefits available to the employee.

(4) The procedure for applying for parental leave.

(5) That discrimination and retaliatory actions against an employee, for requesting, applying for, or using parental leave benefits, are prohibited.

Proposedlawprovidesforanemployeetofileagrievancewithin24monthsafteraviolation occurred if the employee believes that his rights were restrained, violated, denied, or otherwise discriminated against.

Proposed law provides for at least 12 months to elapse before an employee is eligible for another parental leave period.

Proposed law provides for an eligible employee to submit a request for paid parental leave form30daysbeforethequalifyingeventtothelocaleducationagency.Proposedlawfurther allows for the eligible employee to give written notice of the qualifying event to the local education agency as soon as reasonably possible if the qualifying event is less than the 30 day advance notice.

Proposed law provides for a severabilityclause.

Proposed law creates the "Paid Parental Leave For Educators Fund".

Implementation of the provisions of proposed law is subject to the appropriation of funds by the legislature for this purpose.

Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

(Adds R.S.

17:1214-1214.1, and 3996(B)(92);

repeals R.S.

17:48, 500.2(A)(1)(b), 1202(A)(1)(b), 1206.2(A)(1)(b), and 1211) Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the original bill 1.

Make technical changes.

2.

Define eligible employee.

3.

Clarify the definition of paid parental leave.

4.

Allow for the position of an eligible employee to be filled when it has been temporarily vacated.

5.

Require twelve months to elapse before an employee is eligible for another Page 9 of 10 Coding:

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-115 RE-REENGROSSED SB NO.

157 parental leave period.

6.

Requiresubmissionofarequestforpaidparentalleaveformthirtydays,with exceptions, before the qualifying event to the local education agency.

7.

Repeal certain statutes.

Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Finance to the engrossed bill 1.

Provide that implementation of proposed law is subject to appropriation of funds by the legislature.

2.

Delete the provision that proposed law is to be implemented by each city, parish, or other local public school board on January 1, 2027.

3.

Make technical changes.

Senate Floor Amendments to reengrossed bill 1.

Makes technical changes.

2.

Clarifies language from "does not" to "shall not".

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