Bill > SB1614

This bill establishes the Missouri Earned Family and Medical Leave Act, creating a program that provides eligible employees with up to six weeks of wage replacement benefits annually for family or medical leave. This leave can be used for bonding with a new child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or for the employee's own serious health condition, or to attend to familial responsibilities when a spouse, child, or parent is on active duty in the uniformed services. To fund this program, employees will contribute one-quarter of one percent of their average weekly pay to a dedicated "Missouri Earned Family and Medical Leave Fund" starting January 1, 2028, with benefits not being paid out until January 1, 2030. The bill also outlines eligibility requirements, including a minimum of 52 weeks of contributions to the fund, and specifies that leave must be taken concurrently with federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave if applicable. Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who utilize this leave, with penalties for violations including back pay, damages, and attorney fees. The bill also includes provisions for notice requirements for foreseeable leave, an appeals process for benefit determinations, and an outreach program to inform employees of their rights.

Labor and Employment

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=2591248