A substitute bill that would give female education employees six weeks of paid leave after having or adopting a child cleared a Senate committee on Wednesday, but drew frustration from Democrats because it isn’t as expansive as Sen. Vivian Figure’s original bill for teachers.
“I think this is a helluva thing that you’re substituting my bill and I’ve told you my desires,” Figures, D-Mobile, said to the Senate education budget committee Wednesday morning. “I think it’s total disrespect.”
Figure’s original Senate Bill 305 would have given all teachers 12 weeks of parental leave for the birth of a child or adoption of a child, a miscarriage or stillbirth. A fiscal note said it would cost local schools $7,500 per employee who took 12 weeks of leave.
In committee, Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, offered a substitute that he said was in line with what is also being discussed for non-education state employees in other legislation.
“We’re treating everyone the same, be you an education employee, be you a state employee,” Orr said. It also allows employees six weeks of paid leave if they adopt a child less than 3 years old.
The substitute quickly received unanimous support, but a few minutes later, Figures and other Democrats realized it offers six weeks less in leave and wouldn’t apply to miscarriages or stillbirths.
Watch the exchange below.
Rep. Ginny Shaver’s House Bill 309 originally would have allowed state employees eight weeks of paid leave. It’s been reduced to allow six weeks of paid leave for female employees after a birth and men and women after the adoption of a child. It would cost state agencies up to $6,400 per employee. That bill is awaiting a Senate vote.
Alabama doesn’t currently offer any paid parental leave to teachers or state employees.
State Personnel Director Laury Morgan last month told Alabama Daily News paid leave is a growing trend among southern states.
“This bill would bring us in line with our neighboring states and could likely assist with the recruitment and retention of state employees,” Morgan previously said about Shaver’s original bill.
In committee Wednesday, Figures asked that her original bill advance to the Senate where work on it could continue. The committee, led by Orr, voted down that request.
The substitute bill was approved along party lines with Figures and other Democrats voting against it.
“I don’t ask for a lot around here, I really don’t,” Figures, a Senator since 1997, said after the vote. “And I don’t raise a lot of hell, like I could. But for you to totally disrespect me after I humbly and respectfully asked you just to pass my bill out…”
The substitute now goes to the full Senate. From there, it will have to go to the House. There are five legislative days remaining in this session.