# Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-1210: Parental leave > Virginia · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T2.2_SI_PC_C12_S2.2-1210 ## Section - **Citation:** Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-1210 - **Heading:** Parental leave - **Jurisdiction:** Virginia - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Virginia Code / Title 2.2 / Subtitle I / Part C / Chapter 12 / Section 2.2-1210 ## Text A. As used in this section: "Eligible employee" means a classified or at-will state employee who has been employed by the Commonwealth for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. "Parental leave" means paid leave provided at 100 percent of an eligible employee's regular salary. B. The Department shall implement and administer parental leave for eligible employees. Following the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child younger than age 18, an eligible employee shall receive eight weeks (320 hours) of parental leave. If both parents of such child are eligible employees, each shall receive parental leave, which may be taken concurrently, consecutively, or at different times. C. Parental leave shall be taken within six months following the birth, adoption, or foster placement of the child. Parental leave shall be taken only once in a 12-month period and only once per child. D. Parental leave shall be in addition to other leave benefits available to state employees, including the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program under Chapter 11 (§ 51.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 51.1, sick leave under Article 2 (§ 51.1-1104 ) of Chapter 11 of Title 51.1, annual leave, and leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.), and shall not be counted against leave under such programs. Parental leave shall run concurrently with any leave provided to an eligible employee under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Parental leave may run concurrently or sequentially with leave provided under the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program if an eligible employee is eligible for such leave. All legal holidays designated pursuant to § 2.2-3300 shall not be counted against parental leave. E. On July 1, 2020, and every July 1 thereafter, each state agency's human resource manager shall submit to the Department, in a form and containing such data as prescribed by the Department, a report on the use of parental leave by agency employees for the preceding fiscal year. F. The Department shall develop and publish guidelines on parental leave that shall be exempt from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.). 2019, cc. 829 , 844 . ## Nearby sections - [Va. 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Code Ann. § 2.2-1203 Certain information not to be made public](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T2.2_SI_PC_C12_S2.2-1203.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-1204 Health insurance program for employees of local governments, local officers, teachers, etc.; definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T2.2_SI_PC_C12_S2.2-1204.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-1205 Purchase of continued health insurance coverage by the surviving spouse and any dependents of an active or retired local law-enforcement officer, firefighter, etc., through the Department](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T2.2_SI_PC_C12_S2.2-1205.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-1206 Purchase of continued health insurance coverage by the surviving spouse and any dependents of an active local law-enforcement officer, firefighter, etc., through a plan sponsor](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T2.2_SI_PC_C12_S2.2-1206.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-1207 Long-term care insurance program for employees of local governments, local officers, and teachers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T2.2_SI_PC_C12_S2.2-1207.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-1208 Long-term care insurance](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T2.2_SI_PC_C12_S2.2-1208.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-1209 Agency director human resource training and agency succession planning](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T2.2_SI_PC_C12_S2.2-1209.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-1210 Parental leave](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T2.2_SI_PC_C12_S2.2-1210.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-1211 Required diversity and cultural competency training](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T2.2_SI_PC_C12_S2.2-1211.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T2.2_SI_PC_C12_S2.2-1210. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.