HB1775

House Bill 1775 amends the Uniform Attendance and Leave Policy Act in Arkansas to include foster care children in the definition of a child for sick leave purposes. The bill establishes a new provision granting eligible state employees 40 hours of paid foster care leave per calendar year. This leave is intended for bonding, adjusting to the placement, attending school-related meetings, participating in court hearings, and engaging in required case-planning activities. The leave does not carry over to subsequent years and is not compensable upon termination or retirement. Certain employees, such as emergency, intermittent, or probationary staff, are excluded from eligibility. Additionally, employees eligible for existing catastrophic maternity leave for infants under one year of age are excluded from this specific foster care leave. The act includes a contingency clause regarding the effectiveness of specific exclusions based on the passage of other related legislation.