Video & Transcript Research : 'protected leave'

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AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee Feb 25th, 2026

Finance and Taxation General Fund

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm welcome to leave, Mr. Chairman, if you need me to [laughter] if that helps the process.
  • And I felt there's enough passion out there for people wanting to help make sure we're protecting our
  • And before they leave that precinct, they put a tape on the door, a copy of that precinct report, too
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Banking, Financial Services and Pensions Apr 7th, 2026 at 03:00 pm

Banking, Financial Services and Pensions

Transcript Highlights:
  • It has a lot of consumer protections and ensures that those who are doing the transaction are aware that
  • I just spoke with him today, and this bill carries over all the consumer protections that we worked on
  • You'd probably like to know the general topic of this bill has to do with the protection of vulnerable
Bills: SB1623, SB2067, SB2132
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 2/20/25

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • of, you know, protecting free speech, protecting the First Amendment, protected speech, it's a real
  • <00:29:32.000> by<00:29:32.240> that protected by that protected by that department<00:
  • 29:57.480> Speech<00:29:57.799> protect protecting Free Speech protect protecting Free
  • <00:29:58.960> protected protecting the First Amendment protected protecting the First Amendment
  • All speech that is protected speech has to be protected, right?
Bills: HF414, HF768, HF359
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Education May 19th, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • There are protections in the bill against retaliation and also to protect tenure issues.
  • As stated, it replaces existing maternity leave laws with this new parental leave policy.
  • leave, or they're leaving the state.
  • That they are leaving the profession if they don't have access to paid leave, or they're leaving the
  • Another said she had to use all of her sick leave for maternity leave.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Jan 21st, 2026

Military and Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Is it possible we can get something in there about protecting spouses?
  • Is it possible we can get something in there about protecting spouses?
  • >> Is it possible we can get something in there about protecting spouses?
Bills: HB155, HB155
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Apr 9th, 2025

Ways and Means General Fund

Transcript Highlights:
  • I know it's an extremely busy day and I know some of you got to leave early, so we'll get started.
  • solvent so that for generations to come, when men and women stand up to serve their community, to protect
  • There is no language that states that any retiree gets any benefit once they leave service.
  • I'm very glad to try to help you in the process of protecting children.
  • You know... process of protecting children.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Education REVISED Apr 7th, 2026 at 10:00 am

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill adds in maternity leave for adoptive parents as long as the child is up to the age of 4, that
  • estimated cost would be covered by the maternity leave revolving fund.
  • So we do not need to add additional dollars because they have that to cover in the maternity leave revolving
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Finance May 5th, 2026

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Barrow and I are leaving in 17 months. So if we can get a few more bumps.
  • So, based on the amendment that we took action on, where does that leave the bill?
  • that it would leave committee subject to appropriation unless there's another.
  • Basically, it provides for the six weeks' leave and includes all K-12 employees.
  • , no banking of the leave, a 12-month waiting period between times that the leave can be utilized.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Education Policy Committee Feb 18th, 2026

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, the other the bill would require the sick leave policy to allow employees to donate sick leave directly
  • model sick leave day policy. model sick leave day policy.
  • <00:04:43.680> days limiting uh how much uh sick leave days limiting uh how much uh sick leave
  • to donate sick leave directly employees to donate sick leave directly to<00:04:52.240> another
  • So duties of sick leave bank committees.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • this bill would is designed to protect this bill would is designed to protect those,<00:08:29.840
  • <00:15:23.680> for helps to advance, um, protections for helps to advance, um, protections
  • <00:23:53.200> our leg in a in a shooting protecting our leg in a in a shooting protecting
  • order to take off for maternity leave. order to take off for maternity leave.
  • If they had 240 days of annual leave, uh, yeah, well, 240 days of sick leave and annual leave, they could
Summary: The committee heard testimony from Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty on a bill to extend minimum line-of-duty hazardous duty retirement benefits to certain CERS and KERS non-hazardous members who are injured in the line of duty and cannot return to that work. She used a video and examples from Eastern Kentucky first responders, including a deputy who lost a leg and an emergency management director who lost an eye, to argue that some injured officers and responders fall through the cracks because their employers did not elect hazardous-duty coverage. She said the proposal would provide 25% of pay to the disabled officer, plus 10% for dependent children and minimal health benefits, and noted estimated actuarial costs of about $2.9 million for CERS and $0.542 million for KERS, funded through small employer-rate increases. Members asked how far back the bill would reach, how many people might qualify, and whether the benefit would apply only to active employees or also to past injuries. Laferty said the bill would include a five-year window for recent situations and could potentially cover a total of 3,333 positions statewide that could be certified as hazardous, though benefits would only apply if the person was injured in the line of duty and disabled from returning to that work. Questions also focused on whether a non-hazardous employee could qualify if injured in a hazardous situation; Laferty said yes, if the position could be certified as hazardous, but only for the bill’s minimum benefits. Rep. Josh Calloway and others noted that local governments choose whether to pay the higher hazardous-duty contribution rates, which they said often drives the coverage decision. The committee then heard Rep. Daniel Gberg present a separate bill revising school leave rules so teachers and school employees may use accumulated sick leave to observe religious holidays not on the school calendar, with a required personal statement and advance notice. He said the change would address a longstanding inconsistency for teachers who observe non-Christian holidays and currently may have to choose between unpaid leave or improperly using sick days, and he said prior concerns about retirement service credit and maternity leave were reduced by other policy changes. The discussion ended without a vote, with members indicating they had the relevant materials and that the bill would be revisited later.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/04/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair, members, House Bill 2663 brought its military leave protections for state and non-state employees
  • by expanding the eligibility for a leave of absence.
  • And there's already federal law that protects soldiers when they go out on orders.
  • You know, if you're called for a flood or some kind of other duty, the soldier would be protected.
  • Don't disappoint anybody else, or you'll be asked to leave. Thank you.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Today I have a bill we talk about sick leave, and we've had discussions about sick leave in the past,
  • :33:21.279> past discussions about sick leave in the past discussions about sick leave in the
  • provide 10 10 days of sick leave provide 10 10 days of sick leave annually<00:34:46.480> but<
  • retirement cost for annual leave retirement cost for annual leave recruited<00:37:59.839> by<
  • reporting procedures regarding leave reporting procedures regarding leave with<00:38:58.480>
Summary: The committee first approved the prior month’s minutes after a roll call established a quorum. It then heard testimony on a draft proposal from Senator Robbie Mills to increase CERS retiree health subsidies for members retiring on or after July 1, 2003. The bill would raise the non-hazardous subsidy from $14.63 to $40 per month per year of service and the hazardous-duty subsidy from $21.94 to $50, with employee contribution rates adjusted based on the health trust’s funded status. Supporters from sheriffs, firefighters, police chiefs, and the Kentucky League of Cities said the change would improve recruitment and retention, better align the subsidy with the cost of a single health plan, and preserve the system’s financial footing through shared employer-employee costs and funding triggers. Committee members asked about the fiscal impact, the effect of funding levels above 150%, and how the subsidy would work for rehired retirees or employees who later take private-sector jobs. Mills and other witnesses said preliminary actuarial work was still forthcoming, that the bill was intended to be revenue-neutral or close to it, and that the subsidy would continue to be paid monthly; they also noted existing 2008 rules for rehired retirees and said the benefit would still be available even if a retiree later had other insurance. One member suggested looking at stable accounts as an additional option for special-needs planning in a later bill. The committee then heard Senate Bill 58 from Senator Robin Webb, which would allow state employees to designate a Special Needs Trust as a beneficiary for retirement benefits. Webb said the measure would help employees provide for disabled dependents without jeopardizing SSI or Medicaid eligibility, and that the bill follows federal special-needs trust rules. He said the proposal could be revenue neutral, but actuarial analysis was still pending and KPPA had asked for electronic rather than paper transfer provisions. Members questioned whether the authority already exists, how the trust would work, and whether stable accounts should also be considered; Webb said he would follow up with additional information.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/3/26

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:20:43.440> Um personal information protected. Um personal information protected.
  • workplace protections enforced by DLI. workplace protections enforced by DLI.
  • It also covers of unpaid leave.
  • is um specific to unpaid leave. is um specific to unpaid leave.
  • the protections sort of kick in. the protections sort of kick in. >> Okay.
Summary: The committee first adopted the minutes from February 26 and then heard House File 2581, authored by Representative Frazier, which sought $1 million for Fortis Capital, a nonprofit economic development lender. Frazier and Fortis CEO Brian Smith described Fortis as a gap-financing lender that helps underserved entrepreneurs who cannot meet traditional bank underwriting standards. They said the organization has made 37 loans totaling more than $4 million since 2021, leveraged another $29.5 million, and created 314 jobs. Smith said Fortis typically charges around 6.5% interest, has had two defaults, and uses a revolving loan fund model that recycles repayments; members discussed how the proposal fits with other state economic development programs and whether Fortis should instead be part of a competitive grant process. The chair laid HF 2581 over for possible inclusion in a budget bill. The committee then heard House File 3707, brought by Representative Berg, which would extend confidentiality protections to unemployment insurance and paid leave judges and related staff by adding them to the definition of judges for purposes of protecting personal information. Berg and testifiers from the Department of Economic Development and MAPE said the bill responds to harassment and safety concerns, including threats, doxxing, and an attack near an office, and is intended to protect people making sensitive determinations. MAPE supported the bill as an update to existing protections for similar workers. Members raised concerns that the bill’s language was too broad, especially the reference to the paid leave division, and questioned whether it should cover only judges or also call-center and other staff. Department and committee members agreed the language likely needed narrowing and discussed possible amendments and whether to move the bill to Judiciary and then revisit it. No final vote was taken on HF 3707 during the discussion, and the bill remained under consideration for further language work.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill would actually protect schools.
  • They're not protected. ...liability issues the way the current law is written.
  • They're not protected. Parents don't have the option to opt in.
  • They'll be protected.
  • I believe this bill provides protection. I don't believe that there.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • That it's still requiring a 15-day sick leave bank.
  • That it's still requiring a 15-day sick leave bank.
  • You can't 15-day sick leave bank.
  • leave 15 days in the bank. leave 15 days in the bank. >> Yes.<00:21:28.880> Yeah.
  • Participate in the sick leave bank and contribute to others.
Summary: The committee first took up Representative John Blanton’s bill on pension spiking and Kentucky Public Pension Authority administration. Blanton said the measure would make a prior court-related pension-spiking fix retroactive to July 1, 2022, so employees who retired between that date and the court ruling would be treated the same as those covered by the earlier legislation. KPPPA staff said they did not think the bill would go beyond the Court of Appeals ruling, but noted it could prompt requests from people who retired before July 1, 2022. Members asked about how many retirees might be affected, whether the language was narrow enough, and whether the bill could open the door to additional claims; Blanton estimated roughly 1,000 retirees would need review, with fewer actually impacted. No vote was taken on the bill in the excerpt. The committee then heard Senator Matt Nunn and Scott County Schools Superintendent Billy Parker present a proposal allowing school districts to offer teachers and other employees a voluntary payout for unused sick days. Supporters said the idea could improve attendance, reduce substitute costs and classroom disruptions, help retain younger teachers, and potentially lower long-term retirement-related costs because the payout would not count toward pension compensation. They emphasized the program would be optional for districts and employees, would require teachers to keep at least 15 sick days in reserve, and would be district-funded rather than a state cost. Members raised questions about budget impact, tax treatment, pension effects, and whether the incentive would actually change behavior; the bill sponsor and witnesses said the payout would be taxed like other compensation and would not affect TRS or CERS benefits. One member requested reporting on how the program would be used, and the sponsor said he would be open to adding that. The sponsor also noted a later committee-substitute change would allow use of accumulated sick leave for observance of religious holidays not otherwise on the school calendar, with a personal statement from the employee.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • employers utilizing this sick leave employers utilizing this sick leave function<00:04:22.800>
  • and procedures surrounding sick leave. and procedures surrounding sick leave.
  • of annual leave to sick rolling over of annual leave to sick days<00:16:42.240> now.
  • Annual leave is paid out at 100% leave.
  • . leave. leave.
Summary: The meeting opened with roll call, a quorum was confirmed, and the minutes were approved. The committee then heard testimony on Senate Bill 9, which concerns TRS sick leave audit requirements and process. Auditor Allison Ball’s staff said the audit is an information-gathering review of how teacher sick leave is accumulated, current balances, how many employers use the sick leave function, and the policies and procedures governing sick leave. Members discussed how unused sick leave affects retirement calculations, the distinction between the state’s financial responsibility and school districts’ responsibility, and whether the audit would also examine related leave categories such as personal leave, annual leave, and leave of absence. Committee members emphasized that Senate Bill 9 was intended to add accountability and standardize reporting, including preventing annual leave from being rolled into sick leave. Several members asked for clarification on how sick leave is factored into retirement benefits. Witnesses and members explained that, under the system described, accumulated sick leave can be converted into retirement credit based on a teacher’s daily rate and then multiplied by a percentage, with the school district often bearing the cost. Members also noted nuances in the law, including different accumulation limits by hire date and tier, and that the audit may help the public better understand why some educators retire relatively young. The auditor’s office said it is still early in the process, has met with TRS leadership, and will report back once the audit progresses. The committee also asked whether maternity leave would be included; the auditor’s office said it was not specifically mandated but could be examined if the body requests it. The committee then received an overview of Senate Bill 10 from KPA representatives Ryan Barrow and Rebecca Atkins. They explained that the bill enhances retiree health insurance benefits for certain CRS members who are non-Medicare participants and meet specified career thresholds, with different rules for hazardous and non-hazardous service. They described the benefit as $40 per month per year of service for non-hazardous service and $50 per month per year for hazardous service, both inflated annually, and clarified that these amounts are not cumulative with prior benefit formulas. Members asked about the interaction between the new amounts and existing benefits, and the presenters explained that the bill also changes current employee health insurance contribution rates effective July 1, 2026, with different impacts by tier and hazardous status. The committee discussed the need for clear communication to affected employees and reviewed example calculations showing how the new contribution structure would work.