2021 -- H 6090 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC002286/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- TEMPORARY DISABILITY

INSURANCE -- BENEFITS

     

     Introduced By: Representative Katherine S. Kazarian

     Date Introduced: March 03, 2021

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 28-41-35 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-41 entitled "Temporary

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Disability Insurance - Benefits" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-41-35. Benefits.

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     (a) Subject to the conditions set forth in this chapter, an employee shall be eligible for

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temporary caregiver benefits for any week in which he or she is unable to perform his or her regular

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and customary work because he or she is:

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     (1) Bonding with a newborn child or a child newly placed for adoption or foster care with

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the employee or domestic partner in accordance with the provisions of § 28-41-36(c)(1); or

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     (2) Caring for a child, a parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, spouse, or domestic partner,

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who has a serious health condition, subject to a waiting period in accordance with the provisions

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of § 28-41-12. Employees may use accrued sick time during eligibility waiting period in accordance

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with the policy of the individual's employer.

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     (b) Temporary caregiver benefits shall be available only to the employee exercising his or

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her right to leave while covered by the temporary caregiver insurance program. An employee shall

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file a written intent with their employer, in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by

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the department, with a minimum of thirty (30) days' notice prior to commencement of the family

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leave. Failure by the employee to provide the written intent may result in delay or reduction in the

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claimant's benefits, except in the event the time of the leave is unforeseeable or the time of the leave

 

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changes for unforeseeable circumstances.

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     (c) Employees cannot file for both temporary caregiver benefits and temporary disability

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benefits for the same purpose, concurrently, in accordance with all provisions of this act and

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chapters 39 -- 41 of this title.

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     (d) Temporary caregiver benefits may be available to any individual exercising his or her

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right to leave while covered by the temporary caregiver insurance program, commencing on or

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after January 1, 2014, which shall not exceed the individual's maximum benefits in accordance with

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chapters 39 -- 41 of this title. The benefits for the temporary caregiver program shall be payable

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with respect to the first day of leave taken after the waiting period and each subsequent day of leave

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during that period of family temporary disability leave. Benefits shall be in accordance with the

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following:

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     (1) Beginning January 1, 2014 temporary caregiver benefits shall be limited to a maximum

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of four (4) weeks in a benefit year;

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     (2) Beginning January 1, 2022 temporary caregiver benefits shall be limited to a maximum

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of five (5) weeks in a benefit year;

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     (3) Beginning January 1, 2023 temporary caregiver benefits shall be limited to a maximum

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of six (6) weeks in a benefit year.

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     (e) In addition, no individual shall be paid temporary caregiver benefits and temporary

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disability benefits which together exceed thirty (30) times his or her weekly benefit rate in any

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benefit year.

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     (f) Any employee who exercises his or her right to leave covered by temporary caregiver

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insurance under this chapter shall, upon the expiration of that leave, be entitled to be restored by

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the employer to the position held by the employee when the leave commenced, or to a position with

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equivalent seniority, status, employment benefits, pay, and other terms and conditions of

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employment including fringe benefits and service credits that the employee had been entitled to at

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the commencement of leave.

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     (g) During any caregiver leave taken pursuant to this chapter, the employer shall maintain

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any existing health benefits of the employee in force for the duration of the leave as if the employee

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had continued in employment continuously from the date he or she commenced the leave until the

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date the caregiver benefits terminate; provided, however, that the employee shall continue to pay

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any employee shares of the cost of health benefits as required prior to the commencement of the

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caregiver benefits.

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     (h) No individual shall be entitled to waiting period credit or temporary caregiver benefits

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under this section for any week beginning prior to January 1, 2014. An employer may require an

 

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employee who is entitled to leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Pub. L. No.

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103-3 and/or the Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act, 28-41 et seq., who exercises

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his or her right to benefits under the temporary caregiver insurance program under this chapter, to

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take any temporary caregiver benefits received, concurrently, with any leave taken pursuant to the

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federal Family and Medical Leave Act and/or the Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave

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Act.

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     (i) Temporary caregiver benefits shall be in accordance with federal Family and Medical

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Leave Act (FMLA) Pub. L. No. 103-3 and Rhode Island Family Parental and Family Leave Act in

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accordance with § 28-48-1 et seq. An employer may require an employee who is entitled to leave

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under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Pub. L. No. 103-3 and/or the Rhode Island

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Parental and Family Medical Leave Act, 28-41 et seq., who exercises his or her right to benefits

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under the temporary caregiver insurance program under this chapter, to take any temporary

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caregiver benefits received, concurrently, with any leave taken pursuant to the federal Family and

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Medical Leave Act and/or the Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- TEMPORARY DISABILITY

INSURANCE -- BENEFITS

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     This act would increase temporary caregiver benefits to five (5) weeks in a benefit year

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starting January 1, 2022 and would increase temporary caregiver benefits to six (6) weeks in a

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benefit year beginning January 1, 2023.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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