JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) -Mississippi state employees do not have paid maternity leave. They’re able to take up to 12 weeks off under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act known as FMLA. But that’s unpaid. However, there are discussions about the possibility of changing that.

A Senate study group has a laser focus on what can be done to improve the lives of women, children, and families. The maternity leave issue is the latest topic.

“The legislature governs the state workers, and they’re competing against the private sector,” noted study group member Sen. Brice Wiggins. “And so we, we want good workers for the state. So, I think that would be, we need to be looking at that. But it’s always a balancing about is that a benefit that outweighs the cost?”

Senator Nicole Boyd believes it would have numerous benefits.

“We know that paid maternity leave leads to these higher employer retention rates,” said Boyd. “Women are much more likely to return to their job. There’s reduced turnover, and therefore the cost associated this are dramatically less. You see enhanced employee morale, which is really important. And then we see increased productivity. After women have had sufficient time to be off work, to rest, to get their health back in shape. They come back to work, ready to work.”

Attorney General Lynn Fitch was asked about the issue at the conclusion of her testimony to the group. She told lawmakers that it would simply put us in line with most other Southern states and says they should take it up in the 2025 session.

“I just want to tell you that Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Virginia have all passed these laws, and so I would encourage you to take a hard look at this,” explained Fitch.

Meanwhile, Sen. Rod Hickman thinks it the right move but doesn’t want it to be too narrowly focused.

“The one thing I would say that I’m hopeful of that if we are able to pass legislation for state employees to have paid maternity leave, that it looks like a family leave model, whereas a father has opportunity to take advantage of that,” he said. “Adopting parents have the opportunity to take advantage of this.”

There are more hearings scheduled for November that will drill down more specifically on this issue. Boyd says she would only be interested in a state employee benefit, no mandates on private businesses in the state.

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Here is our Mississippi high school football scoreboard, including the sixth week of the season for MHSAA programs.

Friday’s games

Aberdeen vs Nettleton, 7 p.m.

Amite County vs Bogue Chitto, 7 p.m.

Baldwyn vs Walnut, 7 p.m.

Bay Springs vs Scott Central, 7 p.m.

Belmont vs Alcorn Central, 7 p.m.

Ben’s Ford Christian vs Prentiss Christian, 7 p.m.

Bowling Green vs Amite School Center, 7 p.m.

Brighton vs Horn Lake, 7 p.m.

Brookhaven Academy vs Simpson, 7 p.m.

Byhalia vs West Lowndes, 7 p.m.

More: Mississippi high school football scores for 2024 MHSAA Week 5

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Caledonia vs Kosciusko, 7 p.m.

Callaway vs Forest Hill, 7 p.m.

Carroll vs Columbus Christian, 7 p.m.

Central Hinds vs Bayou, 7 p.m.

Central Holmes Christian vs Canton Academy, 7 p.m.

Charleston vs Winona, 7 p.m.

Choctaw County vs East Webster, 7 p.m.

Christian Collegiate vs Prentiss Christian, 7 p.m.

Clarksdale vs Southaven, 7 p.m.

Clinton Christian vs Columbia Academy, 7 p.m.

Coahoma County vs Rosa Fort, 7 p.m.

Collins vs North Forrest, 7 p.m.

Columbus vs New Hope, 7 p.m.

Copiah vs Lamar Christian, 7 p.m.

D’Iberville vs Wayne County, 7 p.m.

Deer Creek vs Newton, 7 p.m.

Desoto vs Delta, 7 p.m.

East Marion vs Sacred Heart Catholic, 7 p.m.

East Union vs Mantachie, 7 p.m.

Edwards vs Amanda Elzy, 7 p.m.

Enterprise vs Lumberton, 7 p.m.

Enterprise vs Southeast Lauderdale, 7 p.m.

Falkner vs Strayhorn, 7 p.m.

Florence vs Hancock, 7 p.m.

French Camp vs Noxapater, 7 p.m.

Gautier vs Columbia, 7 p.m.

Gentry vs Germantown, 7 p.m.

Greenwood vs Starkville, 7 p.m.

Grenada vs Desoto Central, 7 p.m.

Hamilton vs Calhoun City, 7 p.m.

Hartfield vs Oak Forest, 7 p.m.

Hatley vs Tupelo Christian Prep, 7 p.m.

Hattiesburg vs George County, 7 p.m.

Hazlehurst vs Natchez, 7 p.m.

Hebron Christian vs Calhoun, 7 p.m.

Heidelberg vs Richton, 7 p.m.

Holly Springs vs Independence, 7 p.m.

Humphreys County vs Yazoo County, 7 p.m.

J.Z. George vs Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Jackson Prep vs West Jones, 7 p.m.

Jackson vs St Joseph Catholic, 7 p.m.

Jefferson County vs Port Gibson, 7 p.m.

Jefferson Davis County vs Seminary, 7 p.m.

Kemper County vs McLaurin, 7 p.m.

Kemper vs Lee Academy, 7 p.m.

Kirk vs Indianola, 7 p.m.

Kossuth vs Booneville, 7 p.m.

Lake vs Clarkdale, 7 p.m.

Lawrence County vs Sumrall, 7 p.m.

Leake County vs Puckett, 7 p.m.

Leake vs Pillow, 7 p.m.

Lee vs Marshall, 7 p.m.

Leflore County vs Riverside, 7 p.m.

Lewisburg vs Hernando, 7 p.m.

Louisville vs Houston, 7 p.m.

M.S. Palmer vs Coffeeville, 7 p.m.

MRA vs East Rankin, 7 p.m.

Magee vs Crystal Springs, 7 p.m.

Manchester vs Greenville Christian, 7 p.m.

McComb vs Laurel, 7 p.m.

McComb vs Sumrall, 7 p.m.

Mendenhall vs Forest, 7 p.m.

Meridian vs Harrison Central, 7 p.m.

Middleton vs Ashland, 7 p.m.

Moss Point vs Poplarville, 7 p.m.

Murrah vs Holmes County Central, 7 p.m.

Myrtle vs Benton, 7 p.m.

New Albany vs Senatobia, 7 p.m.

Newton vs Mize, 7 p.m.

North Pike vs Noxapater, 7 p.m.

North Side vs O’Bannon, 7 p.m.

Northeast Lauderdale vs Newton County, 7 p.m.

Noxapater vs Velma Jackson, 7 p.m.

Okolona vs H.W. Byers, 7 p.m.

Parklane vs Adams County Christian, 7 p.m.

Pass Christian vs Greene County, 7 p.m.

Perry Central vs St Patrick Catholic, 7 p.m.

Petal vs Picayune Memorial, 7 p.m.

Porters Chapel vs Hillcrest Christian, 7 p.m.

Potts Camp vs Biggersville, 7 p.m.

Prairie View vs Park Place Christian, 7 p.m.

Presbyterian Christian vs Bay, 7 p.m.

Provine vs Jim Hill, 7 p.m.

Purvis vs Forrest County Agricultural , 7 p.m.

Quitman vs Morton, 7 p.m.

Raleigh vs Pisgah, 7 p.m.

Resurrection Catholic vs Salem, 7 p.m.

Richland vs Lanier, 7 p.m.

Riverfield vs St Aloysius, 7 p.m.

Sebastopol vs Mount Olive, 7 p.m.

Shannon vs Ripley, 7 p.m.

Sharkey Issaquena vs Tallulah, 7 p.m.

Silliman Institute vs Cathedral, 7 p.m.

Simmons vs South Delta, 7 p.m.

Smithville vs Mooreville, 7 p.m.

South Jones vs Long Beach, 7 p.m.

South Pike vs Franklin County, 7 p.m.

South Pontotoc vs North Pontotoc, 7 p.m.

St Andrew’s vs Pelahatchie, 7 p.m.

St Joseph vs Magnolia Heights, 7 p.m.

Stone vs St Stanislaus, 7 p.m.

Stringer vs West Lincoln, 7 p.m.

Terry vs Clinton, 7 p.m.

Thrasher vs Vardaman, 7 p.m.

Tishomingo County vs Amory, 7 p.m.

Tunica vs Humphreys, 7 p.m.

USJ vs Northpoint Christian, 6 p.m.

Union vs Eupora, 7 p.m.

Velma Jackson vs Ethel, 7 p.m.

Washington vs Tri-County, 7 p.m.

Water Valley vs Saltillo, 7 p.m.

Wayne vs Centreville, 7 p.m.

West Bolivar vs Leland, 7 p.m.

West Lauderdale vs Leake Central, 7 p.m.

West Marion vs Tylertown, 7 p.m.

West Point vs Tupelo, 7 p.m.

West Tallahatchie vs McEvans, 7 p.m.

Wilkinson Christian vs Tensas Academy, 7 p.m.

Wilkinson County vs Loyd Star, 7 p.m.

Winona Christian vs North Delta, 7 p.m.

Winston vs Oak Hill, 7 p.m.

Thursday’s games

Center Hill 22, Olive Branch 14

Nanih Waiya 52, McAdams 24