Labor & Employment (Paid Leave)

SB 211 expands sick leave options for public education employees in Alabama. It allows direct sick leave donations between employees at different schools or institutions (like K-12 districts and public colleges), removes limits on how much extended medical leave an employee can donate, and requires the State Board of Education to create a model policy for this. All public education authorities (including local school boards and colleges) must adopt this policy, including provisions for sick leave banks and direct donations. The bill affects teachers, support staff, and administrators working in Alabama’s public education system.

This resolution (HJR 62) urges the State of Alabama to adopt a "Temporary Workers' Bill of Rights" but does not create binding law. It proposes specific standards for temporary workers, including requiring fair pay, safety training, clear assignment details, prohibiting fees for background checks, banning forced arbitration, limiting assignment lengths (90 days max), and mandating offers of permanent roles after 90 days (or 180 days for medical leave exceptions). The resolution directly addresses temporary staffing agencies and host employers in Alabama, outlining 12 key provisions to improve working conditions. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses legislative support but would require separate action to become law.

HB 361, the Alabama Living Donor Protection Act, prohibits insurers from denying or limiting disability, life, or long-term care insurance coverage to living organ donors. It requires public employers (state/local government) to provide up to 80 hours of paid medical leave for employees donating organs, with no retaliation allowed. Private employers offering similar paid leave (minimum 80 hours or 15 days) qualify for a 25% tax credit (capped at $2,000 annually) for tax years starting in 2027. The bill directly affects organ donors, insurers, public employees, and private sector employers. It aims to remove financial barriers to donation through concrete protections and incentives.

HB 21, the Parental Right to Participate in Schools Act, allows Alabama parents and guardians of school-age children to take up to 48 hours annually for school-related activities like conferences, sports events, or performances. Employers must permit this leave unless it would substantially disrupt business operations, and employees must provide at least 10 days' advance notice (unless the event was unforeseeable). Employers must post workplace notices about the law and face $100 daily fines for non-compliance. The Alabama Department of Workforce will enforce the law, which takes effect October 1, 2026.