SB 1644 Summary

• Establishes a family and medical leave insurance program beginning January 1, 2025, providing wage-replacement benefits to eligible employees for childbirth, serious health conditions, family care, military service exigencies, and safe leave related to domestic violence or sexual assault.

• Provides eligible workers up to 26 weeks of paid leave for their own serious health conditions and up to 24 weeks for other qualifying reasons, with benefits calculated as 90% of wages up to $1,000 per week maximum (adjusted annually).

• Requires equal employer-employee payroll contributions (50-50 split) beginning January 1, 2024, with contribution rates set annually by the Arizona Industrial Commission based on actuarial principles and fund balance requirements.

• Protects covered individuals from retaliation, ensures job restoration upon return from leave, maintains health insurance benefits during leave, and establishes civil remedies including damages up to three times actual economic losses and attorney fees for violations.

• Permits self-employed individuals to elect coverage voluntarily for minimum three-year periods and requires employers to provide written notice to employees about program eligibility, benefits, and anti-retaliation protections.