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Bill > H0033


VT H0033

An act relating to expanding employee access to unpaid leave


summary

Introduced
01/15/2025
In Committee
01/15/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Session

Bill Summary

This bill proposes to expand access to unpaid family and medical leave and provide job-protected leave from employment for reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, bereavement, and a qualifying exigency. This bill also proposes to eliminate barriers for LGBTQ+ families in accessing caregiving leave and to establish reporting requirements to track the impact of expanded access.

AI Summary

This bill proposes to expand and modernize Vermont's family and medical leave policies to be more inclusive, equitable, and supportive of diverse family structures. The bill significantly broadens the definition of "family member" to include not just traditional biological relationships, but also chosen family, in-loco parentis relationships, and individuals with significant personal bonds, which will help LGBTQ+ families and nontraditional family structures access caregiving leave more easily. The legislation introduces several new types of leave, including "safe leave" for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, bereavement leave, and leave for qualifying military exigencies. Employees will now be entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for various reasons, including parental leave, family health conditions, bereavement (up to two weeks), and safe leave. The bill also requires employers to provide job-protected leave and mandates that employees can return to the same or comparable job after their leave. Additionally, the bill establishes reporting requirements for employers to track leave usage across different employee groups, with the goal of identifying and addressing potential barriers to leave access. The expanded definitions and protections aim to create a more flexible and supportive workplace environment that recognizes the diverse caregiving needs of modern workers. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, giving employers time to prepare for the new requirements.

Committee Categories

Housing and Urban Affairs

Sponsors (14)

Last Action

House Committee on General and Housing Hearing (00:00:00 1/22/2025 ) (on 01/22/2025)

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