Travis County currently offers no paid parental leave benefits. Its employees must instead rely on a combination of sick leave, vacation time, and short-term disability. The City of Austin provides six weeks of paid parental leave to all new parents, regardless of gender, and including new foster and adoptive parents. Harris County, the most populous county in the state, offers 10 weeks of paid parental leave and will move to 12 weeks next year. The federal government provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Research demonstrates the many deeply important benefits of paid parental leave to both parents and their children. The time for change is now. The Travis County Commissioners Court must immediately begin the process of making 12 weeks of paid parental leave available to all county employees who are new parents, regardless of gender, and including new foster and adoptive parents.