HB 127 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0127-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P RE S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to paid parental leave; amending s. 2
110.221, F.S.; defining the term "paid parental 3
leave"; requiring the state to provide paid parental 4
leave to certain employees for a specified time 5
period; prohibiting the state from requiring that an 6
employee use his or her annual or sick leave for paid 7
parental leave; providing that the employee is 8
entitled to accumulate specified benefits during such 9
leave; prohibiting the state from refusing to grant 10
such leave; providing an effective date. 11
12
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
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Section 1. Section 110.221, Florida Statutes, is amended 15
to read: 16
110.221 Parental or famil y medical leave.— 17
(1) As used in this section, the term : 18
(a) "Family" means a child, parent, or spouse . 19
(b) , and the term "Family medical leave" means leave 20
requested by an employee for a serious family illness including 21
an accident, disease, or con dition that poses imminent danger of 22
death, requires hospitalization involving an organ transplant, 23
limb amputation, or other procedure of similar severity, or any 24
mental or physical condition that requires constant in -home 25
HB 127 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0127-00
Page 2 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P RE S E N T A T I V E S
care. 26
(c) "Paid parental leave " means fully paid leave for the 27
father or mother of a child who is born or adopted by that 28
parent. 29
(d) The term "Parental leave" means leave for the father 30
or mother of a child who is born to or adopted by that parent. 31
(2) The state shall provide 12 w eeks of paid parental 32
leave to a career service employee following the birth or 33
adoption of a child by the employee. The state may not require 34
such employee to use his or her annual leave or sick leave 35
during the initial 12 -week period. The employee is ent itled to 36
accumulate all benefits granted under paid leave status. 37
(3)(2) The state may shall not: 38
(a) Terminate the employment of any employee in the career 39
service because of the pregnancy of the employee or the 40
employee's spouse or the adoption of a child by that employee. 41
(b) Refuse to grant to a career service employee : 42
1. Paid parental leave; or 43
2. Parental or family medical leave without pay for a 44
period not to exceed 6 months. Such leave shall commence on a 45
date that is determined by the employee in consultation with the 46
attending physician following notification to the employer in 47
writing, and that is approved by the employer. 48
(c) Deny a career service employee the use of and payment 49
for annual leave credi ts for parental or family medical leave. 50
HB 127 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0127-00
Page 3 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P RE S E N T A T I V E S
Such leave shall commence on a date determined by the employee 51
in consultation with the attending physician following 52
notification to the employer in writing. 53
(d) Deny a career service employee the use of and paym ent 54
for accrued sick leave or family sick leave for any reason 55
deemed necessary by a physician or as established by policy. 56
(e) Require that a career service employee take a 57
mandatory parental or family medical leave. 58
(4)(3) Upon returning at the end o f parental or family 59
medical leave of absence, such employee shall be reinstated to 60
the same job or to an equivalent position with equivalent pay 61
and with seniority, retirement, fringe benefits, and other 62
service credits accumulated prior to the leave peri od. If any 63
portion of the parental or family medical leave is paid leave, 64
the employee shall be entitled to accumulate all benefits 65
granted under paid leave status. 66
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 67