ATLANTA – A law that would double the amount of paid [.fow1-1]parental[.fow1-1] leave for state employees has cleared the Georgia House of Representatives.

House Bill 1010, which the House passed 153-11 on Thursday, would allow state workers 240 hours, or six weeks, of paid [.fow1-1]parental[.fow1-1] leave following the birth, [.fow1-2]adoption[.fow1-2], or [.fow1-3]foster[.fow1-3] care placement of a child in their home. A bill the General Assembly passed three years ago gave 120 hours of paid [.fow1-1]parental[.fow1-1] leave to state employees.

“We are taking another step so that these employees can spend even more time with their families after having or [.fow2-1]adopting[.fow2-1] a child,” House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, said after the vote.

“Our state employees work [very hard] to serve our communities, and with this law, we have sent a clear message that we value and support our working families across this state.”

“This would provide a low-cost, high-value benefit to help [hire] and [keep] employees and... demonstrate our respect and support for them at a most significant and life-changing time in their lives,” added Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones, R-Milton, House Bill 1010’s main [.fow2-2]sponsor[.fow2-2].

The bill now moves to the state Senate.