HF 521

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 02/06/2015 08:21am

A bill for an act
relating to employment; providing for voluntary paid parental leave; requiring
a report; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 181.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [181.9411] VOLUNTARY PAID PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Created. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of labor and industry shall reimburse
an employer as defined in section 181.940, subdivision 3, that provides qualified paid
parental leave. "Qualified paid parental leave" or "leave" is an employer-paid leave of
absence to an employee who is a natural or adoptive parent in conjunction with the
birth or adoption of a child. Qualified paid parental leave does not include sick leave or
vacation leave. Qualified paid parental leave must occur within the first year of birth or
during the first year in which the employee becomes an adoptive parent. To qualify for
reimbursement under subdivision 2, an employer must pay an employee at least $200 per
week of qualified paid parental leave unless the employee's preleave salary was $300 or
less, in which case the employer must pay at least $100 per week. Qualified paid parental
leave must be at least six consecutive weeks in duration.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Reimbursement amount. new text end

new text begin Reimbursement is one-half the employer
weekly leave payment; except that, for employees with weekly preleave wages below
$300, reimbursement is $100 if the employer pays qualified paid parental leave of at least
that amount. Except for employees with a preleave salary of $300 or less, reimbursement
cannot exceed one-third of an employee's preleave salary. Reimbursement is limited to 26
weeks. Reimbursement is subject to a maximum of $250 per week. The commissioner
shall adjust the maximum reimbursement annually by the United States All-Items
Consumer Price Index to reflect inflation. Benefits received under this section are income
for the purposes of section 119B.035.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Notification. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of labor and industry shall notify
employers of the voluntary paid parental leave program through the department's
newsletter, Web site, and other communications with employers.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin By February 1, 2017, the commissioner of labor and industry
shall report to the legislature on the number of employers requesting paid parental leave
reimbursement, including an estimation of the number, size, and industry type of employers
obtaining reimbursement; the number of employees who have taken parental leave under
the program; the average and range of leave lengths reimbursed; and the average and ranges
of payments, as well as implementation issues identified by the commissioner. In addition,
the commissioner shall obtain a sample of at least 30 participating families to provide
additional information on employees' and employers' experiences, including information
on the salary ranges of participating employees, employee and employer satisfaction or
dissatisfaction with the program, and other information identified by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Appropriation. new text end

new text begin There is annually appropriated from the general fund to
the commissioner of labor and industry sums sufficient to make the payments required
under this section. Up to five percent of the appropriation may be used for administration.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2015, and applies to
employer-paid leave benefits paid on or after that date.
new text end