HB 13-1222 Summary

• Creates the "Family Care Act" expanding Colorado employee eligibility for federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave to include civil union partners and domestic partners with serious health conditions

• Permits employees to take FMLA leave to care for domestic partners who have either registered the partnership with their municipality or state, or are recognized by the employer as a domestic partner

• Allows employers to require reasonable documentation or written statement of family relationship to confirm the employee's relationship to the person requiring care

• Specifies that state-mandated FMLA leave runs concurrently with federal FMLA leave and does not increase total allowable leave during a twelve-month period

• Authorizes aggrieved employees to bring civil actions in state court against employers for denying or interfering with FMLA leave rights under this act, with remedies limited to damages and equitable relief available under federal FMLA

• Automatically repeals if Congress amends federal FMLA to permit leave for all persons described in the act