State Employee Bereavement Leave/Up To 40 Hrs
Plain English Summary
This bill provides North Carolina state employees, public school employees, and community college employees with paid bereavement leave of up to 40 hours when an immediate family member dies and up to 8 hours when a colleague dies. The bill appropriates $2 million to fund this benefit, effective July 1, 2026.
Arguments in Favor
Supporters argue this bill helps state employees manage the practical and emotional demands of bereavement without sacrificing their paychecks. They contend that paid bereavement leave is a standard employee benefit that recognizes the reality that employees need time to handle funeral arrangements, travel, and grieve without financial hardship. Advocates also note the broad definition of immediate family members (including step-, adoptive, and in-law relationships) ensures equitable treatment for diverse family structures.
Arguments Against
Opponents may argue that the $2 million appropriation adds to state spending during budget constraints and that the unlimited number of uses (for immediate family members) could create potential for abuse. Some may also question whether 40 hours is excessive compared to private sector standards, or whether employees should use existing sick leave for bereavement purposes rather than creating a separate paid leave category with no cash value upon termination.
AI-generated analysis based on bill text. Always verify with official sources at ncleg.gov. This is not legal or political advice.
Sponsors
Primary Sponsor
Representative · District 42
Primary Sponsor
Representative · District 31
Primary Sponsor
Representative · District 105
Cosponsors (31)
Representative · District 39
Representative · District 116
Representative · District 8
Representative · District 115
Representative · District 48
Representative · District 38
Representative · District 99
Representative · District 45
Representative · District 102
Representative · District 49
Representative · District 112
Representative · District 71
Representative · District 41
Representative · District 27
Representative · District 50
Representative · District 40
Representative · District 30
Representative · District 61
Representative · District 114
Representative · District 100
Representative · District 29
Representative · District 18
Representative · District 66
Representative · District 98
Representative · District 88
Representative · District 57
Representative · District 60
Representative · District 33
Representative · District 32
Representative · District 101
Representative · District 11