School and community college employees: paid disability and parental leave.

Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry's legislation mandates up to 14 weeks of paid leave for California public school and community college employees who require time off due to pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. The measure establishes uniform standards across educational institutions, replacing the current system that allows governing boards discretion over leave policies.

The bill requires educational employers to maintain employees' full pay and continue group health coverage during approved leaves. For part-time workers, compensation is calculated based on their regular schedule for those with fixed hours, or their average weekly earnings over the previous six months for those with variable schedules. The legislation prohibits deducting this leave from other available leave entitlements and eliminates minimum service requirements or hours worked thresholds for eligibility.

Under the measure, pregnancy-related disabilities receive equal treatment with other temporary disabilities regarding insurance coverage and sick leave benefits. The provisions apply to both certificated and classified employees across K-12 and community college systems, while preserving any superior benefits established through collective bargaining agreements. Educational employers must implement these changes without additional state funding, as the costs fall to individual districts.