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Maternal Birth Leave

What is Maternal Birth Leave?

Effective July 1, 2026, Georgia law provides eligible employees with up to 120 hours of paid Maternal Birth Leave (MBL) following the birth of a child. This leave is available during the three (3) weeks immediately following the birth of one or more children resulting from a single or multiple pregnancy.

Eligibility

An employee is eligible for Maternal Birth Leave if, at the time of the qualifying life event, the employee:

  • Is a full-time employee with at least six (6) months of continuous employment with the Butts County School System; or
  • Is an hourly employee who has worked at least 700 hours during the six (6) months immediately preceding the requested leave date.

A qualifying life event is defined as the employee giving birth to one or more children resulting from a single or multiple pregnancy.

Required Documentation

Employees requesting Maternal Birth Leave must submit one of the following:

  • Birth Certificate; or
  • Certificate of Live Birth

Leave Guidelines

  • Eligible employees may receive up to 120 hours of paid Maternal Birth Leave.
  • Maternal Birth Leave must be taken as one continuous block of leave and may not be used intermittently.
  • Maternal Birth Leave is available once per rolling twelve (12) month period, regardless of the number of qualifying births occurring during that time.
  • Leave is provided only for scheduled workdays during the three-week period immediately following childbirth.
  • Maternal Birth Leave runs concurrently with any approved leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or an Approved Extended Leave (AEL) and is administered in accordance with applicable district leave policies.
  • Maternal Birth Leave is applied before any available Paid Parental Leave (PPL).
  • Maternal Birth Leave is not available for adoption or foster placement.
  • The use of this leave only applies to scheduled working days for qualifying employees who are giving birth.

 

How to Apply

Employees requesting Maternal Birth Leave should submit their leave request through the district's leave management process.

Maternal Birth Leave will be reviewed and processed when the leave request is submitted in connection with the birth of a child under FMLA or Approved Extended Leave (AEL).

Additional Information

  • Any unused Maternal Birth Leave expires at the end of the three-week period immediately following the qualifying birth and does not carry over.
  • Unused Maternal Birth Leave has no cash value and will not be paid upon separation from employment.
  • Maternal Birth Leave is available only to eligible employees who physically give birth and does not apply to adoption or foster care placements.

Questions

For questions regarding Maternal Birth Leave or the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department at gordonc@bcssk12.org.

 

Download the Request for Georgia Maternlal Birth Leave Application