Bill > B26-0190

This bill clarifies and strengthens protections for employees receiving short-term disability insurance benefits in the District of Columbia by prohibiting private insurance providers from reducing disability benefits based on anticipated or actual paid leave benefits under the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016. The legislation applies to disability insurance policies regardless of where they were originally issued, ensuring that workers cannot have their short-term disability benefits diminished or offset by potential paid leave benefits they might receive. The bill amends two existing laws to make this prohibition explicit: the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act and the Insurance Trade and Economic Development Amendment Act. Specifically, it defines key terms like "eligible individual" by referencing the original paid leave law and establishes that insurers cannot reduce an individual's disability benefits simply because they might qualify for paid leave benefits. The bill is designed as an emergency amendment, which means it will take effect immediately upon mayoral approval and remain in effect for up to 90 days, with a specific applicability date of July 10, 2024.

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0190