Board briefed on state leave changes: HB1118 adds maternal birth leave; SB148 standardizes personal days

Personnel staff briefed the Coffee County School Board on recent state legislation that will require policy updates at the district level.

Staff explained House Bill 1118 will provide an additional three weeks of maternal birth leave for birthing mothers; combined with the district’s existing paid parental leave (six weeks), the change means eligible birthing mothers would receive nine weeks total that do not come out of sick leave. "So 3 weeks for the birthing mother, 6 weeks for, you know, mother or father that that meet those requirements," the personnel representative said.

Staff also discussed Senate Bill 148, which standardizes the ability for employees to use five sick days as personal days regardless of the amount banked previously. "Every employee can use 5 of their sick days as personal days," staff said, describing the change as making the practice uniform for all employees.

Board members asked whether using personal days drawn from sick leave affects teacher retirement system (TRS) calculations. Staff confirmed the days still come from the same pool and said TRS is providing guidance to help educate employees on the use and implications of those days. One board member expressed skepticism about state-level motives behind the changes but no formal action or policy change was taken at the session; staff said they will return with policy revisions for board approval.