In a 105-0 vote, the Alabama House of Representatives approved another bill that will make life easier for families who have adopted, or are in the process of adopting, children. 

In addition to passing the first overhaul of Alabama’s adoption code in more than 30 years, the House moved forward legislation on Tuesday that would allow public education employees to use sick leave to attend to an adopted child, capped at eight weeks. 

HB103 by Rep. Alan Baker (R-Brewton) also allows for education employees to attend to children who are in the process of being adopted. 

Both bills addressing adoption are now in the hands of the Senate. 

“It originated from an educator out in the field that reached out to me,” Baker said. “From there, I reached out to the (Alabama Department of Education) to inquire about this, if this was an issue elsewhere across the state.”

“And they acknowledged this was something that probably needed to be addressed — that there did not need to be a distinction between a biological child or an adopted child in terms of awarding sick leave days for these young children.”

State law accounts for education employees being able to use sick leave to care for a parent, spouse, sibling, or child. Baker says this bill will refine that definition to include adopted children, as well as children actively being adopted by an education employee. 

After a unanimous final passage, 91 House members added their names to underscore their support for the legislation. 

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. Follow him on Twitter @Grayson270 for coverage of the 2023 Legislative Session.