HB 603 Summary

• Creates Chapter 444, Florida Statutes (Paid Family Care Leave Act), requiring employers to provide up to 6 weeks of paid leave to employees bonding with a new child through birth, adoption, or foster care placement, effective January 1, 2017.

• Establishes employee eligibility requirements including notification to employer as soon as practicable and compliance with reasonable employer procedures, with family care leave running concurrently with federal Family and Medical Leave Act protections.

• Requires employers to provide notice of paid family care leave rights through posted materials or employee handbooks, with the Department of Economic Opportunity creating model posters and notices in multiple languages; violations subject to civil penalties of $125 to $250.

• Protects employees from adverse action for requesting or using family care leave, with rebuttable presumptions of employer violations if adverse action occurs within 90 days of filing a complaint or reporting violations; authorizes civil actions with remedies including back pay, treble damages, and attorney fees.

• Amends Florida Civil Rights Act to prohibit employment discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including providing unpaid leave up to 4 months, maintaining health insurance coverage, reasonable accommodations, and comparable position restoration.