The Oklahoma Senate approved Senate Bill 16-X during a special session this week.
The bill gives 6 weeks of paid maternity leave for Oklahoma’s full time state employees after the birth or adoption of a child.
Duncan Republican Senator Jessica Garvin introduced the reform at the start of the 2023 session.
Senator Garvin praised her colleagues for supporting the pro-family policy.
“As a Republican we always talk about being prolife, well this is part of that. We’ve got to support families after the birth and not just through birth. We need to surround the family and give them a better position to be stable especially for women who suffer from things like postpartum depression, those 6 weeks at home with the baby are imperative for the long-term health of the child and for the mom.”
Garvin also says this bill will help with recruitment and retention of state employees.
“This is a huge benefit and a huge win for state employees, this incentivizes people to come in to work for state agencies and when we are able to hire and recruit and retain high quality employees in state agencies that helps with government efficiency.”
The benefit would be available to state employees who have been on the job for at least two years.
Senate Bill 16-X now moves to the house for further consideration.
