(a) A state employee who has been employed for fewer than 12 months by the state or who worked fewer than 1,250 hours during the 12-month period preceding the beginning of leave under this section is eligible to take a parental leave of absence not to exceed 12 weeks in accordance with this section.
(b) The employee must first use all available and applicable paid vacation and sick leave while taking the leave, and the remainder of the leave is unpaid.

(c) The leave authorized by this section is limited to, and begins on the date of, the birth of a natural child of the employee or the adoption by or foster care placement with the employee of a child younger than three years of age.