Gov. Ron Desantis expanded maternity and family leave for Florida state employees in a move approved during Monday’s meeting with his Cabinet. Eligible state employees can receive paid maternity leave for up to seven weeks and parental leave for two weeks, which can be combined to provide nine weeks of paid leave for mothers. Previously, state employees could use sick and annual leave or unpaid leave following the birth of a child. The new policy covers any new mother or family that has been with the state as a full-time employee for at least six continuous months. The new state employee leave policy provides 280 hours of paid maternity leave within the first 12 months of the birth of a child and 80 hours of paid parental leave within the first 12 months of the birth or adoption. It also authorizes using sick leave to bond with a new child for up to a maximum of four months when combined with paid maternity and parental leave within the first 12 months of the birth or adoption. The governor and Cabinet also approved rules to allow paid family leave insurance to be offered in the state, providing a mechanism for state employers to offer similar benefits through supplemental insurance benefits for their own employees. Leave will be available to Florida state employees after rules have been noticed and adopted by the Florida Department of Management Services.