2023 -- H 5990

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LC002029

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- RHODE ISLAND PARENTAL AND

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Giraldo, Morales, Sanchez, Cruz, Stewart, and Voas

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 28-48-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-48 entitled "Rhode Island

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Parental and Family Medical Leave Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-48-2. Parental leave and family leave requirement.

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     (a) Every employee who has been employed by the same employer for twelve (12)

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consecutive months shall be entitled, upon advance notice to his or her employer, to thirteen (13)

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twenty-six (26) consecutive workweeks of parental leave or family leave in any two (2) calendar

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years. The employee shall give at least thirty (30) days’ notice of the intended date upon which

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parental leave or family leave shall commence and terminate, unless prevented by medical

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emergency from giving the notice. The director shall promulgate regulations governing the form

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and content of the employee’s notice to the employer.

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     (b) Parental leave or family leave granted pursuant to this chapter may consist of unpaid

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leave. If an employer provides paid parental leave or family leave for fewer than thirteen (13)

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twenty-six (26) weeks, the additional weeks of leave added to attain the total of thirteen (13)

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twenty-six (26) weeks required by subsection (a) may be unpaid.

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     (c) The employer may request that the employee provide the employer with written

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certification from a physician caring for the person who is the reason for the employee’s leave,

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which certification shall specify the probable duration of the employee’s leave.

 

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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 -- RHODE ISLAND PARENTAL AND

FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

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     This act would increase the amount of unpaid parental or family leave available to an

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employee, from thirteen (13) weeks to twenty-six (26) weeks, in any two (2) calendar years.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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