Summary: HB 5003 - Paid Family Medical Leave Program

• Establishes a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program administered by the Labor Department offering up to 12 workweeks of paid leave during any 12-month period, plus 2 additional weeks for pregnancy-related serious health conditions.

• Creates a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Trust Fund financed by employee contributions (not to exceed 0.5% of weekly earnings, capped at the Social Security contribution and benefit base) beginning July 1, 2020, with benefits starting July 1, 2021.

• Provides paid leave compensation at 100% of weekly earnings (capped at $1,000 per week, adjusted annually for inflation) for qualifying reasons including birth, adoption, serious health conditions, organ donation, military family care, and caring for family members.

• Extends existing Connecticut family and medical leave law by reducing the requirement from 16 to 12 workweeks, expanding eligible family members to include grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings, and changing the measurement period from 24 months to 12 months.

• Authorizes $20 million in state bonds ($10 million each for fiscal years 2020 and 2021) for program startup costs and requires the Labor Commissioner to report annually on program participation, fund balance, employer size, and demographic data.