Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a task force related to paid-family-leave.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Labor and Employment to analyze the feasibility of contracting with a third party to administer parts of a paid family and medical leave program (Sec. 1).

• Establishes a timeline for a potential paid family and medical leave program that contains the following dates (Sec. 1):

• Establishment of the program by July 1, 2020;

• Beginning public education and outreach on January 1, 2022;

• Establishment of program funding by January 1, 2023; and

• Beginning benefit payment on January 1, 2024.

• Establishes the Family and Medical Leave Implementation Task Force in the Department of Labor and Employment (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the task force will be appointed by various public representatives and department leaders, and will consist of the following members (Sec. 1):

• 3 workers or representatives of an organization that represent workers’ interests in paid family and medical leave;

• 3 private employers with a range of business size and experience in paid leave;

• 1 representative of an organization that works on issues of economic opportunity;

• 1 private insurer with experience in administering disability or leave benefits;

• 1 representative of an organization that works on health advocacy;

• 1 labor economist with expertise in paid leave;

• 1 representative of a statewide domestic violence organization;

• 1 higher education professional with expertise in studying paid leave;

• 1 representative of organized labor; and

• 2 non-voting members, one of whom is a representative of the department.

• Requires the task force to accept and consider a minimum of 30 days of public comment regarding the establishment of a paid family and medical leave program by September 1, 2019 (Sec. 1).

• Requires the task force to make an initial recommendation for the program by November 1, 2019, with the following requirements (Sec. 1):

• Affordable to the lowest wage workers;

• Equitable to all workers;

• Accessible; and

• Adequate.

• Requires the task force to report its final recommendation for the program by January 8, 2020 (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the department may not implement any plan for the program unless directed to do so by the general assembly through a bill (Sec. 1). 

• Appropriates $165,487 to the Department of Labor and Employment for the development of an implementation plan for a family and medical leave insurance program (Sec. 2).

• Appropriates $17,004 to the Department of Public Health and Environment for the development of a report on health benefits related to paid family leave (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a task force related to paid-family-leave.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Labor and Employment to analyze the feasibility of contracting with a third party to administer parts of a paid family and medical leave program (Sec. 1).

• Establishes a timeline for a potential paid family and medical leave program that contains the following dates (Sec. 1):

• Establishment of the program by July 1, 2020;

• Beginning public education and outreach on January 1, 2022;

• Establishment of program funding by January 1, 2023; and

• Beginning benefit payment on January 1, 2024.

• Establishes the Family and Medical Leave Implementation Task Force in the Department of Labor and Employment (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the task force will be appointed by various public representatives and department leaders, and will consist of the following members (Sec. 1):

• 3 workers or representatives of an organization that represent workers’ interests in paid family and medical leave;

• 3 private employers with a range of business size and experience in paid leave;

• 1 representative of an organization that works on issues of economic opportunity;

• 1 private insurer with experience in administering disability or leave benefits;

• 1 representative of an organization that works on health advocacy;

• 1 labor economist with expertise in paid leave;

• 1 representative of a statewide domestic violence organization;

• 1 higher education professional with expertise in studying paid leave;

• 1 representative of organized labor; and

• 2 non-voting members, one of whom is a representative of the department.

• Requires the task force to accept and consider a minimum of 30 days of public comment regarding the establishment of a paid family and medical leave program by September 1, 2019 (Sec. 1).

• Requires the task force to make an initial recommendation for the program by November 1, 2019, with the following requirements (Sec. 1):

• Affordable to the lowest wage workers;

• Equitable to all workers;

• Accessible; and

• Adequate.

• Requires the task force to report its final recommendation for the program by January 8, 2020 (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the department may not implement any plan for the program unless directed to do so by the general assembly through a bill (Sec. 1). 

• Appropriates $165,487 to the Department of Labor and Employment for the development of an implementation plan for a family and medical leave insurance program (Sec. 2).

• Appropriates $17,004 to the Department of Public Health and Environment for the development of a report on health benefits related to paid family leave (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text