Georgia House leaders back paid parental leave for 250,000 state workers

A freshman lawmaker has proposed expanding paid parental leave to the state’s public employees as Republicans broaden their recent embrace of a policy change they had previously long resisted.

The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Houston Gaines, an Athens Republican, was announced at a Tuesday press conference featuring House leadership, including the chamber’s top two officials.

The bill, which was filed Tuesday, would provide three weeks of paid leave for any eligible state employee – regardless of gender or sexual orientation – after the birth of a child, have a child in foster care placed in their home or adopt.

If passed, the new policy would affect nearly 250,000 state workers, including K-12 teachers, university staffers and others who currently have no paid paternal leave and who sometimes return to work before they are ready.

Read more: https://georgiarecorder.com/2020/03/04/ga-house-leaders-back-paid-parental-leave-for-250000-state-workers/