Gov. Kristi Noem and the state Bureau of Human Resources expanded paid family leave benefits for state employees Tuesday.
The expansion gives employees 100 percent paid time off for up to 12 weeks for both births and adoptions.
“I want to make sure that South Dakota continues to be the best state in the nation to live, work, and raise a family – and that starts with making sure our state employees have the resources they need to care for their families,” Noem said. “By expanding South Dakota’s Paid Family Leave opportunities, we will give our state’s hardworking moms and dads the chance to bond with a new child during the precious first few weeks after birth or adoption.”
The previous rule offered paid time off up to 24 hours a week for eight weeks.
The South Dakota Rules Review Committee held a hearing for the new parental leave rules Tuesday.
Mallori Barnett spoke for the Bureau of Human Resources during the hearing. She said updating the rules would reflect recent research into the benefits of expanded parental leave.
“Providing this type of leave promotes strong family values, allows employees to spend quality bonding time with a new child, and research has shown this has a tremendous benefit for the employee, the child and the employer," she said.
Barnett said the parent must use their parental leave within 12 months of the child’s arrival. If both parents are state employees, both can receive paid time off.
There was no opponent testimony during the committee hearing.
Sen. Jim Mehlhaff (R) motioned to approve the rules, saying though there are still some unknowns about their impacts, the change would overall benefit employees.
"I think the justifications for it were well established in the testimony from Miss Barnett, and I would just recommend that everyone approve this," he said. "It's a good thing that we can do for state employees and a good thing for family bonding, and it's keeping with the culture in South Dakota."
The committee unanimously approved the change.
