Protecting Military Parental Leave Evaluations Act
This bill, the Protecting Military Parental Leave Evaluations Act, would shield service members who take paid parental leave from certain performance evaluations and make it easier to use that leave. Specifically, it requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to create regulations that (1) exempt a member from a performance evaluation if their parental leave under 10 U.S.C. 701(h) exceeds 31 consecutive days, and (2) allow a member to use parental leave within a two-year window after birth, adoption, or placement without needing a waiver. The bill also requires a report to Congress on how these provisions are implemented. The provisions aim to reduce disincentives to take up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave expanded in 2022 and ensure consistent treatment across the services.
Key Points
- 1The act is titled the Protecting Military Parental Leave Evaluations Act and is introduced in the 119th Congress.
- 2It builds on the 2022 expansion of paid parental leave to 12 weeks within 12 months after birth, adoption, or placement for members of the Armed Forces.
- 3It requires the Secretary of Defense to issue regulations within 180 days of enactment that:
- 4- Exempt a member from a performance evaluation if their parental leave under 10 U.S.C. 701(h) exceeds 31 consecutive days.
- 5- Allow a member to take leave during a two-year period starting at birth, adoption, or placement without needing a waiver.
- 6It requires a report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees detailing the implementation of these provisions.
- 7The bill addresses concerns that taking parental leave could negatively affect performance evaluations and attempts to standardize protections across branches.