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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 5Pt. 3Ch. 11Art. 4§ 21013 Parental Leave Service Credit

§ 21013 Parental Leave Service Credit

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 21013 Parental Leave Service Credit

Key Takeaways

  • •If you take up to a year off for having a baby (mom or dad), you can still get credit for that time toward your retirement.
  • •To get the credit, you have to pay into the retirement system for that time off before you retire.
  • •You must come back to work for at least as long as you were off (e.g., 6 months off = 6 months back at work).
  • •This rule works for past and future baby leaves.

Example

Sarah takes 3 months off after having a baby and returns to work for 3 months.

Sarah can pay into the retirement system for those 3 months off and get credit for that time toward her retirement.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 21013 Parental Leave Service Credit

“Leave of absence” also means any time, up to one year, during which a member is granted an approved maternity or paternity leave and returns to active state service at the end of the approved leave for a period of time at least equal to that leave. Any member may elect to receive service credit for that leave of absence at any time prior to retirement by making the contributions as specified in Sections 21050 and 21052. This section applies to both past and future maternity or paternity leaves of absences by members of the system. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 244, Sec. 5. (SB 216) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

leave of absencematernity or paternity leaveservice creditactive state service

Related Statutes

  • § 21006 Educational Leave Service Credit
  • § 21007 Service Credit For Leave
  • § 21009 Partial Leave Compensation Rules
  • § 21002 Service Credit For Illness Leave
  • § 21004 Work Injury Leave Benefits

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 21013.
View Official Source