HB846 - Relating to a parental leave policy for certain school district classroom teachers.

  89R3982 ANG-D     By: Lalani H.B. No. 846       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a parental leave policy for certain school district   classroom teachers.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 21.416 to read as follows:           Sec.   21.416.     PARENTAL LEAVE FOR CERTAIN CLASSROOM TEACHERS.   (a)   The board of trustees of a school district shall adopt a policy   providing that a classroom teacher who has been employed by the   district for fewer than 12 months or who worked fewer than 1,250   hours during the 12-month period preceding the beginning of the   leave under this section is eligible to take a parental leave of   absence not to exceed 12 weeks in accordance with this section if   the teacher has been employed as a classroom teacher by any district   in this state for at least 12 months and at least 1,250 hours during   the 12-month period preceding the beginning of the leave.           (b)     The classroom teacher must first use all available and   applicable paid vacation and sick leave while taking the leave, and   the remainder of the leave is unpaid.           (c)     The leave authorized by this section is limited to, and   begins on the date of, the birth of a natural child of the employee   or the adoption by or foster care placement with the employee of a   child.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school year.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.