SCS/SB 178 - Under this act, any person employed by a public or private employer with at least 20 employees is entitled to unpaid leave if the person, or a family or household member, is a victim of domestic or sexual violence. Permissible reasons for taking leave include seeking medical attention, recovering from injury, obtaining victim services, obtaining counseling, participating in safety planning, and seeking legal assistance. Such leave shall be limited to 2 weeks of leave per year if the employer employs at least 50 employees and 1 week per year if the employer employs at least 20 but not more than 49 employees. Each week of leave taken by an employee shall equal to the individual employee's standard workweek
Employees are required to give 48 hours notice of the intent to take leave and may be required to provide certification to the employer that the leave is necessary.
On return from leave, employees shall be restored to the same or equivalent employment position and shall not lose accrued benefits. Employers are required to maintain health coverage for the employee while on leave but the premium may be recovered if the employee does not return.
Employers are required deliver a notice summarizing the requirements of this act to its employees, which shall be prepared by the Director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Such notice may be in electronic format and shall be delivered to current employees within 30 days of the effective date of this act and to all employees hired thereafter upon commencement of employment.
This act is substantially similar to HB 944 (2019), SB 739 (2018), SB 268 (2017), and SCS/SB 907 (2016), and similar to SB 130 (2015), SB 712 (2014) and SB 367 (2013).
SCOTT SVAGERA