S.B. No. 307 Summary

• Establishes a family and medical leave insurance program administered by the Director of Job and Family Services to provide paid leave benefits for employees with serious health conditions, caring for family members, or bonding with new children.

• Requires employers to deduct and withhold employee premiums (on a sliding scale based on yearly earnings) and remit them to a state Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund, beginning July 1, 2019.

• Provides eligible individuals up to 12 weeks of paid benefits per 12-month period (after a 7-day waiting period), with weekly benefit amounts ranging from 60-95% of average weekly wage depending on earnings level.

• Allows independent contractors to elect coverage for minimum 3-year periods and permits employees covered by employer policies providing greater leave to opt out of the program.

• Exempts family and medical leave insurance benefits from personal income tax and amends collective bargaining law to establish these benefits as a minimum standard that cannot be diminished.