Assembly Unanimously Approves Paid Parental Leave Benefit

3/8/2023

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At the Regular Assembly Meeting on March 7, 2023, the Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously to approve AO 2023-20, As Amended, to enact a four-week paid parental leave benefit for municipal employees.
 
The ordinance offers municipal employees four weeks of parental leave to be taken within 12 months of a qualifying event, including the arrival of biological and adoptive children as well as the placement of foster children.

“I thank my colleagues for their support to bring this pro-family policy to fruition,” said Member Austin Quinn-Davidson, “and I am proud of the municipal departments and employees who have contributed hundreds of hours to researching, developing and vetting this policy, which has been years in the making. I was honored to enact this policy as Acting Mayor, and now here we are, enacting it again. This policy is good for families, good for business and good for Anchorage.”

An Assembly Information Memoranda (AIM) laid on the table outlined the historical timeline of municipal research and vetting for the parental leave policy signed by former Acting Mayor Quinn Davidson and rescinded by Mayor Bronson in 2021.

Assembly Members Austin Quinn-Davidson, Meg Zaletel and Suzanne LaFrance sponsored the ordinance. The ordinance establishes the benefit for executive and non-represented employees effective immediately.

Amendments to the ordinance were unanimously approved to:
  • Allow employees to take four weeks of paid parental leave in one-week intervals, as opposed to four weeks of continuous leave;
  • Change the model of qualification from the Family Medical Leave Act, which requires one year of employment to activate benefit eligibility, to the Alaska Medical Leave Act effective immediately, which requires only six months of employment to activate benefit eligibility, until January 1, 2024. After the new year, employees will be eligible for the benefit immediately after hire;
  • Urge the Administration to confer with bargaining units to adopt the paid parental leave benefit as soon as possible. 
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CONTACT: 

Austin Quinn-Davidson | District 3
austin.quinn-davidson@anchorageak.gov

Meg Zaletel | District 4
meg.zaletel@anchorageak.gov

Suzanne LaFrance | District 6
suzanne.lafrance@anchorageak.gov

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