Paid leave for state employees; providing paid parental leave for certain state employees. Effective date.

SB 87 creates paid parental leave for eligible Oklahoma state employees, expanding existing leave benefits beyond maternity leave to include parental leave. It requires state agencies to continue paying employees their regular wages during approved parental leave and provides job protections during this period. The bill amends Oklahoma Statutes Section 840-2.20 to integrate these parental leave provisions into the state’s existing leave framework, affecting all state employees who qualify under the updated rules. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2023, as specified in the bill.