School and community college employees: paid maternity leave.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district, and the governing board of a community college district, to provide for a leave of absence from duty for a certificated employee, or an academic employee, of the district who is required to be absent from duty because of pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, and recovery from those conditions. Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district, and the governing board of a community college district, to provide for a leave of absence from duty as it deems appropriate for a female employee in the classified service of the district who is required to be absent from duty because of pregnancy or convalescence following childbirth. Existing law authorizes a governing board to adopt rules and regulations about leaves of absence for classified employees for these purposes, and authorizes a governing board to provide in the rules and regulations whether the leave granted shall be with or without pay, as provided. Existing law, the Charter Schools Act of 1992, provides for the establishment and operation of charter schools, and exempts charter schools from the laws governing school districts, except as specified. This bill would require the governing board of a school district, the governing body of a charter school, and the governing board of a community college district to provide at least 6 weeks of a leave of absence with full pay for a certificated employee, or an academic employee, of the district or charter school who is required to be absent from duty because of pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, and recovery from those conditions. The bill would authorize the paid leave to begin before and continue after childbirth if the employee is actually disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition. The bill would require the governing board of a school district, the governing body of a charter school, and the governing board of a community college district to provide for a leave of absence from duty as it deems appropriate for a female employee in the classified service of the district or charter school who is required to be absent from duty because of pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, and recovery from those conditions. The bill would require the governing board of a school district, the governing body of a charter school, and the governing board of a community college district to adopt rules and regulations prescribing the manner of proof of pregnancy and the duration of the leave of absence, provided that at least 6 weeks of the leave of absence shall be with full pay. The bill would prohibit these provisions from diminishing the right of an employee of a school district, charter school, or community college district to take, or be compensated during, other leaves of absence, as provided. The bill would also make various nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.