RI H7561

Prohibits employers from requiring employees to exhaust accrued sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, or other paid time off as a condition of eligibility for temporary disability insurance or temporary caregiver insurance benefits

Employees may voluntarily elect to use accrued leave concurrently with temporary disability or caregiver benefits to supplement wage replacement, but cannot be compelled to do so

Increases the weekly temporary disability benefit rate from 4.62% to 5.38% of highest quarter wages beginning January 1, 2027, and to 5.77% beginning January 1, 2028

Confirms temporary caregiver benefits maximum of 8 weeks per benefit year as of January 1, 2026, with benefits capped at 85% of the average weekly wage

Takes effect upon passage