Bill > S04463

This bill amends the workers' compensation law to expand the definition of "family leave" to explicitly include time off for employees who experience a stillbirth. Specifically, the bill adds a new provision (labeled as "(c)") that allows employees to take paid family leave to recover after a stillbirth, alongside existing provisions for caring for a family member with a serious health condition, bonding with a new child, and handling military-related family emergencies. The term "stillbirth" refers to the loss of a pregnancy after a certain point of fetal development, typically around 20 weeks of gestation. The bill will take effect on the first day of January following the first day of September after it becomes law, and will apply to all insurance policies or contracts issued or modified on or after that date. This change aims to provide supportive leave options for employees experiencing the traumatic loss of a pregnancy, recognizing the physical and emotional recovery needed after such an event.