Bill > H7968

This bill expands the definition of who can receive temporary caregiver benefits under Rhode Island's Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) programs to include care for a grandchild and a "care recipient," which is defined as someone for whom the employee is responsible for providing or arranging health or safety-related care. It also significantly increases the duration of these benefits, extending them to ten weeks in 2027 and twelve weeks in 2028, up from the previous maximum of eight weeks. Furthermore, the bill introduces an opt-in provision allowing self-employed individuals to voluntarily participate in the TDI/TCI program by making contributions, with specific rules regarding eligibility and timely payments. This legislation aims to provide more comprehensive support for workers needing to take time off for family caregiving and to extend these benefits to a broader range of individuals, including the self-employed.