It is proposed to amend Article VIII. Attendance, Leaves, Resignations, & Retirements
Section 8.02(z) Leave of the Shelby County Law Enforcement Rules and Regulations (October 2026), adding clarifying language to the existing Rule.
The proposed changes reads as follows:
(z) Maternity and Paternity Leave
Eligible employees must be employed with the Sheriff’s Office for twelve (12) consecutive months prior to the start of the requested leave. Leave will be granted at 100% of base pay for the following qualifying events:
• Live Birth:
– Female Employees: Eight (8) weeks of paid leave for the birth of her child.
– Male Employees: Two (2) weeks of paid leave for the birth of his child.
• Miscarriage or Still Birth:
– Female Employees: Two (2) weeks of paid leave for the stillbirth or miscarriage of her child.
– Male Employees: Two (2) weeks of paid leave for the stillbirth or miscarriage of his child.
• Adoptions:
– Female Employees: Eight (8) weeks of paid leave for female employees for the adoption of a child aged three (3) or younger.
– Male Employees: Two (2) weeks of paid leave for male employees for the adoption of a
child aged three (3) or younger.
– Exception 1: If both adoptive parents are eligible employees of this agency, one parent
shall receive eight (8) weeks and the other shall receive two (2) weeks, at the choice of the parents.
– Exception 2: A solo adoptive parent is entitled to the full eight (8) weeks regardless of
gender.
Limitations and Conditions:
• All leave must be utilized within 365 days of the qualifying event. Unused leave expires and carries no cash or retirement value.
• The employee must agree in writing to return to work for a minimum of eight (8) weeks post-leave. Failure to fulfill this 8-week commitment may subject the employee to a monetary repayment of the gross salary compensation received during the leave period, or loss of accrued leave balances to match the amount of Maternity / Paternity Leave taken.
• Paid parental leave may be taken only once in a 365-day period, regardless of multiple qualifying events.
• Parental leave runs concurrently with, and counts toward, job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
• In circumstances where bereavement leave could be granted under the LEPB Rules and Regulations, bereavement leave may not be added to the leave granted under this policy for a still birth or miscarriage.
Employees must submit a formal request along with supporting documentation which will be forwarded to the “Appointing Authority” for final approval.
The hearing will take place at:
Sheriff’s Office Training Center
543 McDow Road
Columbiana, AL 35051
Date: November 3, 2026
Time: 4:00 p.m.
The LEPB Regular meeting will immediately follow.
A printable PDF copy of the proposed Resolution can be found by clicking here to download.
