ATLANTA – Today, Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) applauds the passage of House Bill 1010, sponsored by Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones (R-Milton), to expand paid parental leave for state employees.
“I am proud that the House has voted to pass this important piece of legislation that increases paid parental leave from three weeks to six weeks for state employees and teachers across our state,” said Speaker Burns. “The House first passed this initiative in 2021 to create paid parental leave for our state workers, and, now, we are taking another step so that these employees can spend even more time with their families after having or adopting a child. Our state employees work tirelessly to serve our communities, and with this legislation, we have sent a clear message that we value and support our working families across this state. It’s crucial that we support them in both their professional and personal lives and this expansion of benefits demonstrates our commitment to ensuring a healthy work-life balance and recognizing the importance of family.”
“This would provide a low cost, high value benefit to help recruit and retain employees and tangibly demonstrates our respect and support for them at a most significant and life changing time in their lives,” said Speaker Pro Tem Jones.
Under current law, state employees are allowed 120 hours, or three weeks, of paid parental leave following the birth, adoption or foster care placement of a child in their home. HB 1010 will double the amount of time to allow for 240 hours, or six weeks, of paid parental leave.
The full text of HB 1010 may be found here.
Representative Jon Burns represents the citizens of District 159, which includes Screven County and portions of Bulloch and Effingham counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2004 and is the 75th Speaker of the House.
Representative Jan Jones represents the citizens of District 47, which includes portions of Cherokee and Fulton counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and currently serves as the House Speaker Pro-Tempore. She also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education and the Education, Ethics, Reapportionment and Redistricting, Regulated Industries and Technology and Infrastructure Innovation committees and as an Ex-Officio member of the Rules Committee.
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