(a) This section applies to all employees in the executive branch of State government.
(b) On request, an employee subject to this section may be entitled to parental leave with pay.
(c) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an employee who is the primary caregiver responsible for the care and nurturing of a child may use up to 60 days of parental leave to care for the child during the period immediately following:
(i) the birth of the employee’s child; or
(ii) the placement of the child under 6 years of age with the employee for adoption.
(2) (i) An employee entitled to parental leave authorized under paragraph (1) of this subsection may use accrued annual leave and personal leave available to the employee.
(ii) If the amount of leave specified under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph is less than 60 days, the State agency that employs the employee shall provide the employee with additional paid leave to attain 60 days of parental leave.
(d) An employee may use parental leave only after obtaining approval from the employee’s appointing authority.
(e) (1) An employee who uses parental leave following the birth of the employee’s child may not receive payment under this section unless the employee gives the employee’s immediate supervisor information required by guidelines issued by the Secretary on the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
(2) An employee who uses parental leave for adoption purposes may not receive payment under this subtitle unless the employee gives the employee’s immediate supervisor the certificate required by guidelines issued by the Secretary on the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
(f) The Secretary shall adopt regulations governing parental leave, including regulations that establish conditions and procedures for requesting and approving parental leave.