Senate Committee Fails To Pass Bill Requiring Companies to Provide Maternity Leave If They Pay For Abortion

Abortion, , , ,

On Wednesday the Senate Public Health Committee at the Arkansas Legislature failed to pass a measure ensuring employers that pay for employees to have abortions would also offer paid maternity leave to their employees.

H.B. 1006 by Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R – Knoxville) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R – Benton) would require an employer that offers coverage for abortion expenses to also offer 12 weeks of paid maternity leave.

The bill passed with 80 votes in the Arkansas House of Representatives last week, but it failed on a voice vote in the Senate Public Health Committee on Wednesday morning.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade last summer, corporations like Walmart have announced plans to pay for employees to have abortions.

Some cover travel expenses — such as if a woman from Arkansas travels across state lines to have an abortion.

While many companies have made it clear that they support abortion and oppose the overturn of Roe v. Wade, it is possible that some are comparing the cost of abortion coverage against the cost of paid maternity leave.

In Arkansas, 12 weeks of paid maternity leave for a full time employee earning minimum wage would cost a company approximately $5,280.

An abortion procedure could cost as little as $500 – $900.

Even with coverage for travel expenses, it may be cheaper for employers to pay for abortions than for maternity leave.

The Arkansas Legislature will remain in session for the next several weeks.

That means lawmakers may have other opportunities to pass H.B. 1006 before they adjourn.

You Can Read H.B. 1006 Here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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LEARNS Act Could Provide Unprecedented Access to Education In Arkansas

Legislation, ,

Little Rock, Ark. — On Monday members of the Arkansas General Assembly filed S.B. 294, the LEARNS Act. The bill gradually implements a system of publicly funded accounts that Arkansas students can use to pay for things like tuition, curriculum, and other education expenses.

Family Council President Jerry Cox issued a statement, saying, “This voluntary school choice program could provide students in Arkansas with unprecedented access to education. Once the measure is fully implemented, Arkansas law would make it possible for students to receive a publicly-funded education at a public or private school or at home. Students who choose to attend a private school or who are educated at home under the current form of this bill would take a norm-referenced test or other assessment approved by the State Board of Education every year. The bill does not require students make a certain score on that test. I’m sure many families will appreciate that.”

Cox pointed out that S.B. 294 is an omnibus education bill. “A lot of us have focused on the school choice element of the bill, but the measure deals with critical race theory, teacher salaries, protecting elementary school children from inappropriate sexual material at school, and a lot of other important issues. That’s something to keep in mind as well.”

Cox noted that the bill utilizes the State Board of Education to establish the school choice program. “Much of what the LEARNS Act does is provide a framework that the State Board of Education and the Department of Education will use as it sets up the program between 2023 and 2025. The framework in the bill is good, and if the bill passes, we will know more details about how the program will work once the state board begins announcing plans to implement it. Hearings on the bill are currently underway. We are monitoring those hearings to see if amendments are added to the proposed legislation. We all want to make sure students get the best education possible, and we look forward to working with policymakers so that the LEARNS Act will help as many students in Arkansas as possible.”

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Bill Filed to Protect Teachers From Being Penalized for Declining to Use Students’ Preferred Pronouns

Legislation,

A measure filed at the Arkansas Legislature on Monday would protect teachers and faculty from being penalized if they fail to use a student’s or co-worker’s preferred pronouns.

H.B. 1468 by Rep. Wayne Long (R – Bradford) says that a teacher or faculty member who declines to use a student’s or co-worker’s preferred pronouns could not be held civilly, criminally, or administratively liable.

The bill would apply to teachers and faculty at public schools and state-supported colleges and universities in Arkansas.

Educators in other states have been fired and suspended for declining to use students’ chosen pronouns.

H.B. 1468 would help prevent that from happening in Arkansas.

You Can Read H.B. 1468 Here.

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