Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO CONSIDER adoption of a Resolution No. 2018-078 Amending the Administrative Code, the title of which is as follows:

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO PARENTAL LEAVE FOR BROWARD COUNTY EMPLOYEES; AMENDING SECTION 14.232 OF THE BROWARD COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE ("ADMINISTRATIVE CODE") TO PROVIDE FOR PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR THE CARE OF A NEWBORN CHILD, AN ADOPTED CHILD, A FOSTER CHILD, OR FOR THE GUARDIANSHIP OF A CHILD; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
 

(Cosponsored by Vice-Mayor Mark D. Bogen, Mayor Beam Furr, and
Commissioners Nan H. Rich, Barbara Sharief, and Dale V.C. Holness)

ACTION:  (T-11:29 AM)  Approved.

VOTE:  9-0.

A Resolution directing the County Administrator to publish notice of public hearing to consider adoption of the Resolution Amending the Administrative Code was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners at its meeting of February 27, 2018.

Sets a public hearing to discuss the establishment of a paid parental leave policy for Broward County employees.

Pursuant to data compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States is the only country among 41 nations surveyed that does not provide paid leave for new parents. Applicable research, including a 2014 study by the Institute for Women's Policy Research, shows that paid parental leave offers great benefits to employees and employers by, among other things, increasing workplace morale and workplace productivity. While the Family Medical Leave Act ("FMLA") entitles eligible employees to 12 weeks of job-protected leave, such leave entitlement is not required to be paid.

The adoption of this Resolution would establish a paid parental leave policy for Broward County employees. The policy, if approved, would entitle eligible employees to up to 180 hours of paid parental leave to care for a newborn child, adopted child, foster child, or for the guardianship of a child pursuant to court order. The paid parental leave would run concurrently with FMLA leave. Employees may use sick leave, annual leave, job basis leave, or unpaid leave, as applicable, for the remainder of the 12-week entitlement not covered by paid parental leave. To the extent an eligible employee exhausts his or her leave entitlement under FMLA prior to the occurrence of the event entitling the eligible employee to paid parental leave, that employee shall nonetheless receive up to 180 hours of paid parental leave upon compliance with the requirements of the policy.

Miami Dade and Palm Beach counties have enacted paid parental leave policies.

Rocio Blanco Garcia, Assistant County Attorney, (954) 357-7600