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Starting this year, Salt Lake City will grant six weeks of paid leave to full-time employees who become parents — either as birth mothers or fathers, or through adoption or foster care.
"It is my hope our leadership will propel other cities in our state to act and live up to our shared values by expanding parental leave to all families," said Mayor Jackie Biskupski in a news release.
Previously, only birth mothers were eligible for paid time off, and then in accordance with the length of their tenure.
City spokesman Matthew Rojas said the move isn't expected to have a large impact on the budget, but that the city will evaluate the cost at the end of the year.
According to the release, other local governments that offer paid parental leave to city personnel include Portland, Ore., and King County, Wash.
The city's move doesn't interfere with the application of the Federal and Medical Leave Act.