IL HB6162

Employees may use accrued personal sick leave benefits to care for a spouse, child, sibling, parent, in-laws, grandchild, grandparent, or stepparent due to illness, injury, or medical appointments on the same terms as using leave for their own illness.

Employers may limit sick leave use for family member care to no less than the amount that would accrue over 6 months at the employee's current accrual rate.

Employers with existing paid time off policies that provide equivalent benefits are not required to modify those policies to comply with this Act.

Employers are prohibited from denying, discharging, demoting, suspending, or discriminating against employees for using sick leave benefits, attempting to use such benefits, filing complaints, or cooperating with investigations under this Act.

The Act takes effect on January 1, 2017, and does not extend maximum leave periods under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.