Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes employees to take up to 6 weeks of paid family leave and establishes the Parental and Family Leave Insurance Special Fund.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Parental and Family Leave Insurance Special Fund for the provision of parental or family leave insurance benefits (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes an employee to take 12 weeks of family leave, up to 6 weeks of which may be paid by the Parental and Family Leave Insurance Special Fund, in the following cases (Sec. 2):

• During the employee’s pregnancy;

• Following the birth of the employee’s child;

• Within a year following the placement in the employee’s household of an adopted child or foster child;

• For a serious illness of the employee or the employee’s dependant; or

• Within a year following the birth of an employee’s grandchild, if such employee is the primary caregiver and the biological parents are not taking leave for the birth.

• Specifies that the Parental and Family Leave Insurance Special Fund will consist of contributions equal to .14 percent of a qualified employee’s covered wages, which the employer is required to deduct and withhold (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that a qualified employee awarded parental and family leave insurance benefits will receive 80 percent of their average weekly wage or an amount equal to a 40-hour work week paid at a rate double that of the living wage, whichever is lower (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes an employee to use accrued paid leave, such as sick or vacation leave, parental and family insurance benefits, or other benefits during family leave (Sec. 2).

• Requires an employee to provide their employer with written notice of their intent to take family leave, and requires such notice to include the date upon which such leave is expected to commence and the estimated duration (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text