Bill > HF2266

This bill extends the protections of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) to grandparents, allowing them to take leave for specific family-related reasons concerning their grandchildren. The FMLA, a federal law, provides eligible employees with unpaid, job-protected leave for certain family and medical reasons, and this bill aims to grant similar rights to grandparents. Specifically, an employee who is a grandparent will now have the same rights as an employee under the FMLA, and their employer will be subject to the same requirements. The bill defines "employee" and "employer" as they are defined in the FMLA. The key modifications to these rights include eligibility for leave for the birth of a grandchild and to care for that newborn within one year, to care for a grandchild with a serious health condition, for situations arising from a grandchild being a covered military member on active duty, and to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness if the employee is the service member's grandparent. The director of the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing will be responsible for enforcing this new chapter, using the same civil remedies and penalties outlined in Code chapter 91A, and will also be required to create administrative rules to implement these provisions.

Labor and Employment

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF2266