Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2018-056 directing the County Administrator to publish Notice of Public Hearing to be held on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 422 of the Governmental Center to consider adoption of a proposed Resolution 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.

 

(Sponsored by Vice-Mayor Mark D. Bogen and Commissioner Nan H. Rich)

(Per the Tuesday Morning Memorandum, Commissioner Holness requested being added as a co-sponsor to this item.)

(Transferred to the Consent Agenda.)

ACTION:  (T-10:50 AM)  Approved.  Commissioner Sharief and Mayor Furr requested to be added as co-sponsors to this item.
 
VOTE: 7-0.  Commissioner Holness appeared telephonically and voted in the affirmative.  Commissioners Geller and LaMarca appeared telephonically but were inaudible during the vote.

The Broward County Charter requires the posting of notice and a public hearing for adoption of amendments to the County Administrative Code.

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