1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to employment; extending parenting leave 
  1.3             requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
  1.4             section 181.941, subdivisions 1 and 2. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 181.941, 
  1.7   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [~~SIX-WEEK~~ 12-WEEK LEAVE; BIRTH OR 
  1.9   ADOPTION.] An employer must grant an unpaid leave of absence to 
  1.10  an employee who is a natural or adoptive parent in conjunction 
  1.11  with the birth or adoption of a child.  The length of the leave 
  1.12  shall be determined by the employee, but may not exceed ~~six~~ 12 
  1.13  weeks, unless agreed to by the employer. 
  1.14     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 181.941, 
  1.15  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.16     Subd. 2.  [START OF LEAVE.] The leave shall begin at a time 
  1.17  requested by the employee.  The employer may adopt reasonable 
  1.18  policies governing the timing of requests for unpaid leave.  The 
  1.19  leave may begin not more than ~~six~~ 12 weeks after the birth or 
  1.20  adoption; except that, in the case where the child must remain 
  1.21  in the hospital longer than the mother, the leave may not begin 
  1.22  more than ~~six~~ 12 weeks after the child leaves the hospital.