Bill > H6066

This bill makes several significant changes to Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) programs. First, it increases the taxable wage base for employee contributions from $38,000 to $100,000, which means employees will pay TDI and TCI contributions on a higher portion of their earnings. The bill also modifies the benefit rate calculation, gradually increasing the percentage of wages used to determine weekly benefit amounts from 4.62% to 5.77% between 2027 and 2028. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of family members eligible for temporary caregiver benefits to include siblings and provides a specific definition of "sibling" that encompasses biological, half, step, foster, and adopted siblings. The temporary caregiver benefits will continue to increase in duration, reaching eight weeks of coverage by January 1, 2026. These changes aim to provide more comprehensive and flexible support for workers who need to take time off to care for family members or bond with a new child, while also adjusting the funding mechanism to reflect current wage levels. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, giving employers and employees time to prepare for the new provisions.

Labor and Employment

https://status.rilegislature.gov/