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.