Creating the Paid Parental Leave Pilot Program

HB 2850 creates a paid parental leave pilot program for West Virginia state employees. It provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave at 90% of an employee's average weekly wage (capped at $1,000/week) for birth or adoption during July 2025-July 2027, in addition to existing leave benefits. Eligible employees must be full-time, permanent state workers with 12 consecutive weeks of service, and employers must maintain health coverage during leave. The program requires employers to submit employee claims to the Department of Labor and ends December 31, 2028, as a time-limited pilot.