Bill > SB188

This bill, titled the "Paid Parental Leave for Qualified School Employees Act," establishes a program providing up to twelve weeks of paid parental leave for eligible full-time employees of school districts or charter schools, referred to as "employers." To be a "qualified employee," an individual must have worked for at least fifty-two consecutive weeks and meet other requirements set by the department. This leave can be used for events such as the birth or adoption of a child, or the placement of a child in foster care. The leave must be used within a fifty-two-week period and generally consecutively, though foster parents may have flexibility. Importantly, this paid leave counts towards an employee's years of service but has no cash value and cannot be cashed out upon separation from employment or used for retirement calculations, except for foster parents who may have multiple qualifying events. The bill also mandates that employers maintain health insurance coverage for employees on leave and that the state's public education department will reimburse employers for eligible costs, such as hiring substitute staff. Employers are required to develop guidelines for applying for and administering this leave and to report annually on its usage and impact. The act includes an appropriation of $7.5 million to fund the program and becomes effective on July 1, 2026.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=188&year=26