as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 05/13/2022 08:31am
A bill for an act
relating to employment; providing for paid family, pregnancy, bonding, and
applicant's serious medical condition benefits; regulating and requiring certain
employment leaves; classifying certain data; authorizing rulemaking; appropriating
money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 13.719, by adding a
subdivision; 177.27, subdivision 4; 181.032; 256J.561, by adding a subdivision;
256J.95, subdivisions 3, 11; 256P.01, subdivision 3; 268.19, subdivision 1;
proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 13.719, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
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(a) For the purposes of this subdivision,
the terms used have the meanings given them in section 268B.01.
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(b) Data on applicants, family members, or employers under chapter 268B are private
or nonpublic data, provided that the department may share data collected from applicants
with employers or health care providers to the extent necessary to meet the requirements
of chapter 268B or other applicable law.
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(c) The department and the Department of Labor and Industry may share data classified
under paragraph (b) to the extent necessary to meet the requirements of chapter 268B or
the Department of Labor and Industry's enforcement authority over chapter 268B, as provided
in section 177.27.
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Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 177.27, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
The commissioner may issue an order requiring an
employer to comply with sections 177.21 to 177.435, 181.02, 181.03, 181.031, 181.032,
181.101, 181.11, 181.13, 181.14, 181.145, 181.15, 181.172, paragraph (a) or (d), 181.275,
subdivision 2a, 181.722, 181.79, deleted text begin anddeleted text end 181.939 to 181.943,new text begin 268B.09, subdivisions 1 to 6, and
268B.14, subdivision 3,new text end or with any rule promulgated under section 177.28. The
commissioner shall issue an order requiring an employer to comply with sections 177.41
to 177.435 if the violation is repeated. For purposes of this subdivision only, a violation is
repeated if at any time during the two years that preceded the date of violation, the
commissioner issued an order to the employer for violation of sections 177.41 to 177.435
and the order is final or the commissioner and the employer have entered into a settlement
agreement that required the employer to pay back wages that were required by sections
177.41 to 177.435. The department shall serve the order upon the employer or the employer's
authorized representative in person or by certified mail at the employer's place of business.
An employer who wishes to contest the order must file written notice of objection to the
order with the commissioner within 15 calendar days after being served with the order. A
contested case proceeding must then be held in accordance with sections 14.57 to 14.69.
If, within 15 calendar days after being served with the order, the employer fails to file a
written notice of objection with the commissioner, the order becomes a final order of the
commissioner.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 181.032, is amended to read:
(a) At the end of each pay period, the employer shall provide each employee an earnings
statement, either in writing or by electronic means, covering that pay period. An employer
who chooses to provide an earnings statement by electronic means must provide employee
access to an employer-owned computer during an employee's regular working hours to
review and print earnings statementsnew text begin , and must make statements available for review or
printing for a period of three yearsnew text end .
(b) The earnings statement may be in any form determined by the employer but must
include:
(1) the name of the employee;
(2) the rate or rates of pay and basis thereof, including whether the employee is paid by
hour, shift, day, week, salary, piece, commission, or other method;
(3) allowances, if any, claimed pursuant to permitted meals and lodging;
(4) the total number of hours worked by the employee unless exempt from chapter 177;
(5) the total amount of gross pay earned by the employee during that period;
(6) a list of deductions made from the employee's pay;
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(7) any amount deducted by the employer under section 268B.14, subdivision 3, and
the amount paid by the employer based on the employee's wages under section 268B.14,
subdivision 1;
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deleted text begin (7)deleted text end new text begin (8)new text end the net amount of pay after all deductions are made;
deleted text begin (8)deleted text end new text begin (9)new text end the date on which the pay period ends;
deleted text begin (9)deleted text end new text begin (10)new text end the legal name of the employer and the operating name of the employer if
different from the legal name;
deleted text begin (10)deleted text end new text begin (11)new text end the physical address of the employer's main office or principal place of business,
and a mailing address if different; and
deleted text begin (11)deleted text end new text begin (12)new text end the telephone number of the employer.
(c) An employer must provide earnings statements to an employee in writing, rather
than by electronic means, if the employer has received at least 24 hours notice from an
employee that the employee would like to receive earnings statements in written form. Once
an employer has received notice from an employee that the employee would like to receive
earnings statements in written form, the employer must comply with that request on an
ongoing basis.
(d) At the start of employment, an employer shall provide each employee a written notice
containing the following information:
(1) the rate or rates of pay and basis thereof, including whether the employee is paid by
the hour, shift, day, week, salary, piece, commission, or other method, and the specific
application of any additional rates;
(2) allowances, if any, claimed pursuant to permitted meals and lodging;
(3) paid vacation, sick time, or other paid time-off accruals and terms of use;
(4) the employee's employment status and whether the employee is exempt from minimum
wage, overtime, and other provisions of chapter 177, and on what basis;
(5) a list of deductions that may be made from the employee's pay;
(6) the number of days in the pay period, the regularly scheduled pay day, and the pay
day on which the employee will receive the first payment of wages earned;
(7) the legal name of the employer and the operating name of the employer if different
from the legal name;
(8) the physical address of the employer's main office or principal place of business, and
a mailing address if different; and
(9) the telephone number of the employer.
(e) The employer must keep a copy of the notice under paragraph (d) signed by each
employee acknowledging receipt of the notice. The notice must be provided to each employee
in English. The English version of the notice must include text provided by the commissioner
that informs employees that they may request, by indicating on the form, the notice be
provided in a particular language. If requested, the employer shall provide the notice in the
language requested by the employee. The commissioner shall make available to employers
the text to be included in the English version of the notice required by this section and assist
employers with translation of the notice in the languages requested by their employees.
(f) An employer must provide the employee any written changes to the information
contained in the notice under paragraph (d) prior to the date the changes take effect.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 268.19, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
(a) Except as provided by this section, data gathered from
any person under the administration of the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Law are
private data on individuals or nonpublic data not on individuals as defined in section 13.02,
subdivisions 9 and 12, and may not be disclosed except according to a district court order
or section 13.05. A subpoena is not considered a district court order. These data may be
disseminated to and used by the following agencies without the consent of the subject of
the data:
(1) state and federal agencies specifically authorized access to the data by state or federal
law;
(2) any agency of any other state or any federal agency charged with the administration
of an unemployment insurance program;
(3) any agency responsible for the maintenance of a system of public employment offices
for the purpose of assisting individuals in obtaining employment;
(4) the public authority responsible for child support in Minnesota or any other state in
accordance with section 256.978;
(5) human rights agencies within Minnesota that have enforcement powers;
(6) the Department of Revenue to the extent necessary for its duties under Minnesota
laws;
(7) public and private agencies responsible for administering publicly financed assistance
programs for the purpose of monitoring the eligibility of the program's recipients;
(8) the Department of Labor and Industry and the Commerce Fraud Bureau in the
Department of Commerce for uses consistent with the administration of their duties under
Minnesota law;
(9) the Department of Human Services and the Office of Inspector General and its agents
within the Department of Human Services, including county fraud investigators, for
investigations related to recipient or provider fraud and employees of providers when the
provider is suspected of committing public assistance fraud;
(10) local and state welfare agencies for monitoring the eligibility of the data subject
for assistance programs, or for any employment or training program administered by those
agencies, whether alone, in combination with another welfare agency, or in conjunction
with the department or to monitor and evaluate the statewide Minnesota family investment
program by providing data on recipients and former recipients of Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, cash assistance under chapter 256, 256D, 256J, or
256K, child care assistance under chapter 119B, or medical programs under chapter 256B
or 256L or formerly codified under chapter 256D;
(11) local and state welfare agencies for the purpose of identifying employment, wages,
and other information to assist in the collection of an overpayment debt in an assistance
program;
(12) local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for the purpose of ascertaining
the last known address and employment location of an individual who is the subject of a
criminal investigation;
(13) the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement has access to data on
specific individuals and specific employers provided the specific individual or specific
employer is the subject of an investigation by that agency;
(14) the Department of Health for the purposes of epidemiologic investigations;
(15) the Department of Corrections for the purposes of case planning and internal research
for preprobation, probation, and postprobation employment tracking of offenders sentenced
to probation and preconfinement and postconfinement employment tracking of committed
offenders;
(16) the state auditor to the extent necessary to conduct audits of job opportunity building
zones as required under section 469.3201; deleted text begin and
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(17) the Office of Higher Education for purposes of supporting program improvement,
system evaluation, and research initiatives including the Statewide Longitudinal Education
Data Systemdeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; and
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(18) the Family and Medical Benefits Division of the Department of Employment and
Economic Development to be used as necessary to administer chapter 268B.
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(b) Data on individuals and employers that are collected, maintained, or used by the
department in an investigation under section 268.182 are confidential as to data on individuals
and protected nonpublic data not on individuals as defined in section 13.02, subdivisions 3
and 13, and must not be disclosed except under statute or district court order or to a party
named in a criminal proceeding, administrative or judicial, for preparation of a defense.
(c) Data gathered by the department in the administration of the Minnesota unemployment
insurance program must not be made the subject or the basis for any suit in any civil
proceedings, administrative or judicial, unless the action is initiated by the department.
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For the purposes of this chapter, the terms defined in this section
have the meanings given.
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"Account" means the family and medical benefit insurance account
in the special revenue fund in the state treasury under section 268B.02.
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"Applicant" means an individual applying for leave with benefits
under this chapter.
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"Applicant's average weekly wage" means
an amount equal to the applicant's high quarter wage credits divided by 13.
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(a) "Base period," unless otherwise provided in this subdivision,
means the most recent four completed calendar quarters before the effective date of an
applicant's application for family or medical leave benefits if the application has an effective
date occurring after the month following the most recent completed calendar quarter. The
base period under this paragraph is as follows:
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If the application for family or medical leave benefits is effective on or between these dates: new text end |
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The base period is the prior: new text end |
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February 1 to March 31 new text end |
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January 1 to December 31 new text end |
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May 1 to June 30 new text end |
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April 1 to March 31 new text end |
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August 1 to September 30 new text end |
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July 1 to June 30 new text end |
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November 1 to December 31 new text end |
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October 1 to September 30 new text end |
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(b) If an application for family or medical leave benefits has an effective date that is
during the month following the most recent completed calendar quarter, then the base period
is the first four of the most recent five completed calendar quarters before the effective date
of an applicant's application for family or medical leave benefits. The base period under
this paragraph is as follows:
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If the application for family or medical leave benefits is effective on or between these dates: new text end |
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The base period is the prior: new text end |
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January 1 to January 31 new text end |
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October 1 to September 30 new text end |
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April 1 to April 30 new text end |
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January 1 to December 31 new text end |
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July 1 to July 31 new text end |
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April 1 to March 31 new text end |
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October 1 to October 31 new text end |
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July 1 to June 30 new text end |
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(c) Regardless of paragraph (a), a base period of the first four of the most recent five
completed calendar quarters must be used if the applicant would have more wage credits
under that base period than under a base period of the four most recent completed calendar
quarters.
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(d) If the applicant has insufficient wage credits to establish a benefit account under a
base period of the four most recent completed calendar quarters, or a base period of the first
four of the most recent five completed calendar quarters, but during either base period the
applicant received workers' compensation for temporary disability under chapter 176 or a
similar federal law or similar law of another state, or if the applicant whose own serious
illness caused a loss of work for which the applicant received compensation for loss of
wages from some other source, the applicant may request a base period as follows:
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(1) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of seven to 13 weeks during a
base period referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), then the base period is the first four of the
most recent six completed calendar quarters before the effective date of the application for
family or medical leave benefits;
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(2) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of 14 to 26 weeks during a base
period referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), then the base period is the first four of the most
recent seven completed calendar quarters before the effective date of the application for
family or medical leave benefits;
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(3) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of 27 to 39 weeks during a base
period referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), then the base period is the first four of the most
recent eight completed calendar quarters before the effective date of the application for
family or medical leave benefits; and
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(4) if an applicant was compensated for a loss of work of 40 to 52 weeks during a base
period referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), then the base period is the first four of the most
recent nine completed calendar quarters before the effective date of the application for
family or medical leave benefits.
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"Benefit" or "benefits" means monetary payments under this chapter
associated with qualifying bonding, family care, pregnancy, serious health condition,
qualifying exigency, or safety leave events, unless otherwise indicated by context.
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"Benefit year" means the period of 52 calendar weeks beginning
the date a benefit account under section 268B.04 is effective. For a benefit account established
effective any January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1, the benefit year will be a period of
53 calendar weeks.
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"Bonding" means time spent by an applicant who is a biological,
adoptive, or foster parent with a biological, adopted, or foster child in conjunction with the
child's birth, adoption, or placement.
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"Calendar day" or "day" means a fixed 24-hour period
corresponding to a single calendar date.
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"Calendar quarter" means the period of three consecutive
calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31.
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"Calendar week" has the same meaning as "week" under
subdivision 46.
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"Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment
and economic development, unless otherwise indicated by context.
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(a) "Covered employment" means performing services
of whatever nature, unlimited by the relationship of master and servant as known to the
common law, or any other legal relationship performed for wages or under any contract
calling for the performance of services, written or oral, express or implied.
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(b) "Employment" includes an individual's entire service performed within or without
or both within and without this state, if:
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(1) the service is localized in this state; or
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(2) the service is not localized in any state, but some of the service is performed in this
state and:
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(i) the base of operations of the employee is in the state, or if there is no base of
operations, then the place from which such service is directed or controlled is in this state;
or
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(ii) the base of operations or place from which such service is directed or controlled is
not in any state in which some part of the service is performed, but the individual's residence
is in this state.
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(c) "Covered employment" does not include:
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(1) a self-employed individual; or
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(2) an independent contractor.
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"Department" means the Department of Employment and
Economic Development, unless otherwise indicated by context.
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(a) "Employee" means an individual who is in the employment of
an employer.
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(b) Employee does not include employees of the United States of America.
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(a) "Employer" means:
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(1) any person, type of organization, or entity, including any partnership, association,
trust, estate, joint stock company, insurance company, limited liability company, or
corporation, whether domestic or foreign, or the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, trustee, or
the legal representative of a deceased person, having any individual in covered employment;
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(2) the state, statewide system, and state agencies; and
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(3) any local government entity, including but not limited to a county, city, town,
municipal corporation, quasimunicipal corporation, or political subdivision.
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(b) Employer does not include:
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(1) the United States of America; or
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(2) a self-employed individual who has elected and been approved for coverage under
section 268B.11 with regard to the self-employed individual's own coverage and benefits.
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"Estimated self-employment income"
means a self-employed individual's average net earnings from self-employment in the two
most recent taxable years. For a self-employed individual who had net earnings from
self-employment in only one of the years, the individual's estimated self-employment income
equals the individual's net earnings from self-employment in the year in which the individual
had net earnings from self-employment.
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"Family benefit program" means the program
administered under this chapter for the collection of premiums and payment of benefits
related to family care, bonding, safety leave, and leave related to a qualifying exigency.
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"Family care" means an applicant caring for a family member
with a serious health condition or caring for a family member who is a covered service
member.
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(a) "Family member" means an employee's child, adult
child, spouse, sibling, parent, parent-in-law, grandchild, grandparent, stepparent, member
of the employee's household, or domestic partner.
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(b) For the purposes of this chapter, a child includes a stepchild, biological, adopted, or
foster child of the employee, or a child for whom the employee is standing in loco parentis.
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(c) For the purposes of this chapter, a grandchild includes a step-grandchild, biological,
adopted, or foster grandchild of the employee.
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(d) For the purposes of this chapter, an individual is a member of the employee's
household if the individual has resided at the same address as the employee for at least one
year as of the first day of leave under this chapter.
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"Health care provider" means:
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(1) an individual who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under law to practice
in the individual's scope of practice as a physician, osteopath, surgeon, or advanced practice
registered nurse; or
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(2) any other individual determined by the commissioner by rule, in accordance with
the rulemaking procedures in the Administrative Procedure Act, to be capable of providing
health care services.
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"High quarter" means the calendar quarter in an applicant's
base period with the highest amount of wage credits.
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"Incapacity" means inability to perform regular work, attend
school, or perform other regular daily activities due to a serious health condition, treatment
therefore, or recovery therefrom.
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(a) If there is an existing specific test or definition
for independent contractor in Minnesota statute or rule applicable to an occupation or sector
as of the date of enactment of this chapter, that test or definition shall apply to that occupation
or sector for purposes of this chapter. If there is not an existing test or definition as described,
the definition for independent contractor shall be as provided in this subdivision.
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(b) An individual is an independent contractor and not an employee of the person for
whom the individual is performing services in the course of the person's trade, business,
profession, or occupation only if:
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(1) the individual maintains a separate business with the individual's own office,
equipment, materials, and other facilities;
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(2) the individual:
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(i) holds or has applied for a federal employer identification number; or
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(ii) has filed business or self-employment income tax returns with the federal Internal
Revenue Service if the individual has performed services in the previous year;
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(3) the individual is operating under contract to perform the specific services for the
person for specific amounts of money and under which the individual controls the means
of performing the services;
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(4) the individual is incurring the main expenses related to the services that the individual
is performing for the person under the contract;
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(5) the individual is responsible for the satisfactory completion of the services that the
individual has contracted to perform for the person and is liable for a failure to complete
the services;
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(6) the individual receives compensation from the person for the services performed
under the contract on a commission or per-job or competitive bid basis and not on any other
basis;
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(7) the individual may realize a profit or suffer a loss under the contract to perform
services for the person;
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(8) the individual has continuing or recurring business liabilities or obligations; and
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(9) the success or failure of the individual's business depends on the relationship of
business receipts to expenditures.
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(c) For the purposes of this chapter, an insurance producer, as defined in section 60K.31,
subdivision 6, is an independent contractor of an insurance company, as defined in section
60A.02, subdivision 4, unless the insurance producer and insurance company agree otherwise.
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"Inpatient care" means an overnight stay in a hospital, hospice,
or residential medical care facility, including any period of incapacity, or any subsequent
treatment in connection with such inpatient care.
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"Maximum weekly benefit amount"
means the state's average weekly wage as calculated under section 268.035, subdivision 23.
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"Medical benefit program" means the program
administered under this chapter for the collection of premiums and payment of benefits
related to an applicant's serious health condition or pregnancy.
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"Net earnings from self-employment"
has the meaning given in section 1402 of the Internal Revenue Code, as defined in section
290.01, subdivision 31.
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"Pregnancy" means prenatal care or incapacity due to pregnancy
or recovery from childbirth, still birth, miscarriage, or related health conditions.
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(a) "Qualifying exigency" means a need arising out of
a military member's active duty service or notice of an impending call or order to active
duty in the United States armed forces, including providing for the care or other needs of
the family member's child or other dependent, making financial or legal arrangements for
the family member, attending counseling, attending military events or ceremonies, spending
time with the family member during a rest and recuperation leave or following return from
deployment, or making arrangements following the death of the military member.
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(b) For the purposes of this chapter, a "military member" means a current or former
member of the United States armed forces, including a member of the National Guard or
reserves, who, except for a deceased military member, is a resident of the state and is a
family member of the employee taking leave related to the qualifying exigency.
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"Safety leave" means leave from work because of domestic
abuse, sexual assault, or stalking of the employee or employee's family member, provided
the leave is to:
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(1) seek medical attention related to the physical or psychological injury or disability
caused by domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking;
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(2) obtain services from a victim services organization;
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(3) obtain psychological or other counseling;
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(4) seek relocation due to the domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking; or
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(5) seek legal advice or take legal action, including preparing for or participating in any
civil or criminal legal proceeding related to, or resulting from, the domestic abuse, sexual
assault, or stalking.
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"Self-employed individual" means a resident of
the state who, in one of the two taxable years preceding the current calendar year, derived
at least $10,000 in net earnings from self-employment from an entity other than an S
corporation for the performance of services in this state.
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"Self-employment premium base" means
the lesser of:
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(1) a self-employed individual's estimated self-employment income for the calendar year
plus the individual's self-employment wages in the calendar year; or
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(2) the maximum earnings subject to the FICA Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability
Insurance tax in the taxable year.
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"Self-employment wages" means the amount of
wages that a self-employed individual earned in the calendar year from an entity from which
the individual also received net earnings from self-employment.
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(a) "Serious health condition" means a physical or
mental illness, injury, impairment, condition, or substance use disorder that involves:
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(1) at-home care or inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care
facility, including any period of incapacity; or
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(2) continuing treatment or supervision by a health care provider which includes any
one or more of the following:
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(i) a period of incapacity of more than three consecutive, full calendar days, and any
subsequent treatment or period of incapacity relating to the same condition, that also involves:
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(A) treatment two or more times by a health care provider or by a provider of health
care services under orders of, or on referral by, a health care provider; or
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(B) treatment by a health care provider on at least one occasion that results in a regimen
of continuing treatment under the supervision of the health care provider;
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(ii) a period of incapacity due to pregnancy, or for prenatal care;
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(iii) a period of incapacity or treatment for a chronic health condition that:
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(A) requires periodic visits, defined as at least twice a year, for treatment by a health
care provider or under orders of, or on referral by, a health care provider;
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(B) continues over an extended period of time, including recurring episodes of a single
underlying condition; and
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(C) may cause episodic rather than continuing periods of incapacity;
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(iv) a period of incapacity which is permanent or long term due to a condition for which
treatment may not be effective. The employee or family member must be under the continuing
supervision of, but need not be receiving active treatment by, a health care provider; or
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(v) a period of absence to receive multiple treatments, including any period of recovery
from the treatments, by a health care provider or by a provider of health care services under
orders of, or on referral by, a health care provider, for:
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(A) restorative surgery after an accident or other injury; or
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(B) a condition that would likely result in a period of incapacity of more than three
consecutive, full calendar days in the absence of medical intervention or treatment.
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(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), treatment by a health care
provider means an in-person visit or telemedicine visit with a health care provider, or by a
provider of health care services under orders of, or on referral by, a health care provider.
new text end
new text begin
(c) For the purposes of paragraph (a), treatment includes but is not limited to examinations
to determine if a serious health condition exists and evaluations of the condition.
new text end
new text begin
(d) Absences attributable to incapacity under paragraph (a), clause (2), item (ii) or (iii),
qualify for leave under this chapter even if the employee or the family member does not
receive treatment from a health care provider during the absence, and even if the absence
does not last more than three consecutive, full calendar days.
new text end
new text begin
"State's average weekly wage" means the
weekly wage calculated under section 268.035, subdivision 23.
new text end
new text begin
(a) "Supplemental benefit payment" means:
new text end
new text begin
(1) a payment made by an employer to an employee as salary continuation or as paid
time off. Such a payment must be in addition to any family or medical leave benefits the
employee is receiving under this chapter; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) a payment offered by an employer to an employee who is taking leave under this
chapter to supplement the family or medical leave benefits the employee is receiving.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Employers may, but are not required to, designate certain benefits including but not
limited to salary continuation, vacation leave, sick leave, or other paid time off as a
supplemental benefit payment.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Nothing in this chapter requires an employee to receive supplemental benefit
payments.
new text end
new text begin
"Taxable year" has the meaning given in section 290.01,
subdivision 9.
new text end
new text begin
"Taxable wages" means those wages paid to an employee in
covered employment each calendar year up to an amount equal to the maximum wages
subject to premium in a calendar year, which is equal to the maximum earnings in that year
subject to the FICA Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance tax rounded to the nearest
$1,000.
new text end
new text begin
"Typical workweek hours" means:
new text end
new text begin
(1) for an hourly employee, the average number of hours worked per week by an
employee within the high quarter during the base year; or
new text end
new text begin
(2) 40 hours for a salaried employee, regardless of the number of hours the salaried
employee typically works.
new text end
new text begin
"Wage credits" means the amount of wages paid within an
applicant's base period for covered employment, as defined in subdivision 13.
new text end
new text begin
"Wage detail report" means the report on each employee
in covered employment required from an employer on a calendar quarter basis under section
268B.12.
new text end
new text begin
(a) "Wages" means all compensation for employment, including
commissions; bonuses, awards, and prizes; severance payments; standby pay; vacation and
holiday pay; back pay as of the date of payment; tips and gratuities paid to an employee by
a customer of an employer and accounted for by the employee to the employer; sickness
and accident disability payments, except as otherwise provided in this subdivision; and the
cash value of housing, utilities, meals, exchanges of services, and any other goods and
services provided to compensate an employee, except:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the amount of any payment made to, or on behalf of, an employee under a plan
established by an employer that makes provision for employees generally or for a class or
classes of employees, including any amount paid by an employer for insurance or annuities,
or into a plan, to provide for a payment, on account of (i) retirement, (ii) medical and
hospitalization expenses in connection with sickness or accident disability, or (iii) death;
new text end
new text begin
(2) the payment by an employer of the tax imposed upon an employee under United
States Code, title 26, section 3101 of the Federal Insurance Contribution Act, with respect
to compensation paid to an employee for domestic employment in a private household of
the employer or for agricultural employment;
new text end
new text begin
(3) any payment made to, or on behalf of, an employee or beneficiary (i) from or to a
trust described in United States Code, title 26, section 401(a) of the federal Internal Revenue
Code, that is exempt from tax under section 501(a) at the time of the payment unless the
payment is made to an employee of the trust as compensation for services as an employee
and not as a beneficiary of the trust, or (ii) under or to an annuity plan that, at the time of
the payment, is a plan described in section 403(a);
new text end
new text begin
(4) the value of any special discount or markdown allowed to an employee on goods
purchased from or services supplied by the employer where the purchases are optional and
do not constitute regular or systematic payment for services;
new text end
new text begin
(5) customary and reasonable directors' fees paid to individuals who are not otherwise
employed by the corporation of which they are directors;
new text end
new text begin
(6) the payment to employees for reimbursement of meal expenses when employees are
required to perform work after their regular hours;
new text end
new text begin
(7) the payment into a trust or plan for purposes of providing legal or dental services if
provided for all employees generally or for a class or classes of employees;
new text end
new text begin
(8) the value of parking facilities provided or paid for by an employer, in whole or in
part, if provided for all employees generally or for a class or classes of employees;
new text end
new text begin
(9) royalties to an owner of a franchise, license, copyright, patent, oil, mineral, or other
right;
new text end
new text begin
(10) advances or reimbursements for traveling or other ordinary and necessary expenses
incurred or reasonably expected to be incurred in the business of the employer. Traveling
and other reimbursed expenses must be identified either by making separate payments or
by specifically indicating the separate amounts where both wages and expense allowances
are combined in a single payment;
new text end
new text begin
(11) residual payments to radio, television, and similar artists that accrue after the
production of television commercials, musical jingles, spot announcements, radio
transcriptions, film soundtracks, and similar activities;
new text end
new text begin
(12) the income to a former employee resulting from the exercise of a nonqualified stock
option;
new text end
new text begin
(13) supplemental unemployment benefit payments under a plan established by an
employer, if the payment is not wages under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act. The
payments are wages unless made solely for the supplementing of weekly state or federal
unemployment benefits. Supplemental unemployment benefit payments may not be assigned,
nor may any consideration be required from the applicant, other than a release of claims in
order to be excluded from wages;
new text end
new text begin
(14) sickness or accident disability payments made by the employer after the expiration
of six calendar months following the last calendar month that the individual worked for the
employer;
new text end
new text begin
(15) disability payments made under the provisions of any workers' compensation law;
new text end
new text begin
(16) sickness or accident disability payments made by a third-party payer such as an
insurance company; or
new text end
new text begin
(17) payments made into a trust fund, or for the purchase of insurance or an annuity, to
provide for sickness or accident disability payments to employees under a plan or system
established by the employer that provides for the employer's employees generally or for a
class or classes of employees.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Nothing in this subdivision excludes from the term "wages" any payment made under
any type of salary reduction agreement, including payments made under a cash or deferred
arrangement and cafeteria plan, as defined in United States Code, title 26, sections 401(k)
and 125 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, to the extent that the employee has the option
to receive the payment in cash.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Wages includes the total payment to the operator and supplier of a vehicle or other
equipment where the payment combines compensation for personal services as well as
compensation for the cost of operating and hiring the equipment in a single payment. This
paragraph does not apply if:
new text end
new text begin
(1) there is a preexisting written agreement providing for allocation of specific amounts;
or
new text end
new text begin
(2) at the time of each payment there is a written acknowledgment indicating the separate
allocated amounts.
new text end
new text begin
(d) Wages includes payments made for services as a caretaker. Unless there is a contract
or other proof to the contrary, compensation is considered as being equally received by a
married couple where the employer makes payment to only one spouse, or by all tenants of
a household who perform services where two or more individuals share the same dwelling
and the employer makes payment to only one individual.
new text end
new text begin
(e) Wages includes payments made for services by a migrant family. Where services
are performed by a married couple or a family and an employer makes payment to only one
individual, each worker is considered as having received an equal share of the compensation
unless there is a contract or other proof to the contrary.
new text end
new text begin
(f) Wages includes advances or draws against future earnings, when paid, unless the
payments are designated as a loan or return of capital on the books and records of the
employer at the time of payment.
new text end
new text begin
(g) Wages includes payments made by a subchapter "S" corporation, as organized under
the Internal Revenue Code, to or on behalf of officers and shareholders that are reasonable
compensation for services performed for the corporation.
new text end
new text begin
For a subchapter "S" corporation, wages does not include:
new text end
new text begin
(1) a loan for business purposes to an officer or shareholder evidenced by a promissory
note signed by an officer before the payment of the loan proceeds and recorded on the books
and records of the corporation as a loan to an officer or shareholder;
new text end
new text begin
(2) a repayment of a loan or payment of interest on a loan made by an officer to the
corporation and recorded on the books and records of the corporation as a liability;
new text end
new text begin
(3) a reimbursement of reasonable corporation expenses incurred by an officer and
documented by a written expense voucher and recorded on the books and records of the
corporation as corporate expenses; and
new text end
new text begin
(4) a reasonable lease or rental payment to an officer who owns property that is leased
or rented to the corporation.
new text end
new text begin
(a) "Wages paid" means the amount of wages:
new text end
new text begin
(1) that have been actually paid; or
new text end
new text begin
(2) that have been credited to or set apart so that payment and disposition is under the
control of the employee.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Wage payments delayed beyond the regularly scheduled pay date are wages paid on
the missed pay date. Back pay is wages paid on the date of actual payment. Any wages
earned but not paid with no scheduled date of payment are wages paid on the last day of
employment.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Wages paid does not include wages earned but not paid except as provided for in
this subdivision.
new text end
new text begin
"Week" means calendar week ending at midnight Saturday.
new text end
new text begin
"Weekly benefit amount" means the amount of
family and medical leave benefits computed under section 268B.04.
new text end
new text begin
A family and medical benefit insurance program is created to
be administered by the commissioner according to the terms of this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
A Family and Medical Benefit Insurance Division is
created within the department under the authority of the commissioner. The commissioner
shall appoint a director of the division. The division shall administer and operate the benefit
program under this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
The commissioner may adopt rules to implement the provisions
of this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
The family and medical benefit insurance
account is created in the special revenue fund in the state treasury. Money in this account
is appropriated to the commissioner to pay benefits under and to administer this chapter,
including outreach required under section 268B.18.
new text end
new text begin
The department is exempt
from the provisions of section 16E.016 for the purposes of this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
The commissioner must pay benefits from the family
and medical benefit insurance account as provided under this chapter to an applicant who
has met each of the following requirements:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the applicant has filed an application for benefits and established a benefit account
in accordance with section 268B.04;
new text end
new text begin
(2) the applicant has met all of the ongoing eligibility requirements under section
268B.06;
new text end
new text begin
(3) the applicant does not have an outstanding overpayment of family or medical leave
benefits, including any penalties or interest;
new text end
new text begin
(4) the applicant has not been held ineligible for benefits under section 268.07, subdivision
2; and
new text end
new text begin
(5) the applicant is not employed exclusively by a private plan employer and has wage
credits during the base year attributable to employers covered under the state family and
medical leave program.
new text end
new text begin
Benefits are paid from state funds and are not
considered paid from any special insurance plan, nor as paid by an employer. An application
for family or medical leave benefits is not considered a claim against an employer but is
considered a request for benefits from the family and medical benefit insurance account.
The commissioner has the responsibility for the proper payment of benefits regardless of
the level of interest or participation by an applicant or an employer in any determination or
appeal. An applicant's entitlement to benefits must be determined based upon that information
available without regard to a burden of proof. Any agreement between an applicant and an
employer is not binding on the commissioner in determining an applicant's entitlement.
There is no presumption of entitlement or nonentitlement to benefits.
new text end
new text begin
(a) An
application for benefits may be filed in person, by mail, or by electronic transmission as the
commissioner may require. The applicant must meet eligibility requirements at the time the
application is filed and must provide all requested information in the manner required. If
the applicant does not meet eligibility at the time of the application or fails to provide all
requested information, the communication is not an application for family and medical leave
benefits.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The commissioner must examine each application for benefits to determine the base
period and the benefit year, and based upon all the covered employment in the base period
the commissioner must determine the weekly benefit amount available, if any, and the
maximum amount of benefits available, if any. The determination, which is a document
separate and distinct from a document titled a determination of eligibility or determination
of ineligibility, must be titled determination of benefit account. A determination of benefit
account must be sent to the applicant and all base period employers, by mail or electronic
transmission.
new text end
new text begin
(c) If a base period employer did not provide wage detail information for the applicant
as required under section ......., the commissioner may accept an applicant certification of
wage credits, based upon the applicant's records, and issue a determination of benefit account.
new text end
new text begin
(d) The commissioner may, at any time within 24 months from the establishment of a
benefit account, reconsider any determination of benefit account and make an amended
determination if the commissioner finds that the wage credits listed in the determination
were incorrect for any reason. An amended determination of benefit account must be
promptly sent to the applicant and all base period employers, by mail or electronic
transmission. This paragraph does not apply to documents titled determinations of eligibility
or determinations of ineligibility issued.
new text end
new text begin
(e) If an amended determination of benefit account reduces the weekly benefit amount
or maximum amount of benefits available, any benefits that have been paid greater than the
applicant was entitled is an overpayment of benefits. A determination or amended
determination issued under this section that results in an overpayment of benefits must set
out the amount of the overpayment and the requirement under section ......., that the overpaid
benefits must be repaid.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Unless paragraph (b) applies, to establish
a benefit account, an applicant must have wage credits of at least 5.3 percent of the state's
average annual wage rounded down to the next lower $100.
new text end
new text begin
(b) To establish a new benefit account following the expiration of the benefit year on a
prior benefit account, an applicant must have performed actual work in subsequent covered
employment and have been paid wages in one or more completed calendar quarters that
started after the effective date of the prior benefit account. The wages paid for that
employment must be at least enough to meet the requirements of paragraph (a). A benefit
account under this paragraph must not be established effective earlier than the Sunday
following the end of the most recent completed calendar quarter in which the requirements
of paragraph (a) were met. An applicant must not establish a second benefit account as a
result of one loss of employment.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Subject to the maximum weekly benefit amount, an applicant's weekly benefit
is calculated by adding the amounts obtained by applying the following percentage to an
applicant's average typical workweek and weekly wage during the high quarter of the base
period:
new text end
new text begin
(1) 90 percent of wages that do not exceed 50 percent of the state's average weekly wage;
plus
new text end
new text begin
(2) 66 percent of wages that exceed 50 percent of the state's average weekly wage but
not 100 percent; plus
new text end
new text begin
(3) 55 percent of wages that exceed 100 percent of the state's average weekly wage.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The state's average weekly wage is the average wage as calculated under section
268.035, subdivision 23, at the time a benefit amount is first determined.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The maximum weekly benefit amount is the state's average weekly wage as calculated
under section 268.035, subdivision 23.
new text end
new text begin
(d) The state's maximum weekly benefit amount, computed in accordance with section
268.035, subdivision 23, applies to a benefit account established effective on or after the
last Sunday in October. Once established, an applicant's weekly benefit amount is not
affected by the last Sunday in October change in the state's maximum weekly benefit amount.
new text end
new text begin
(e) For an employee receiving family or medical leave, a weekly benefit amount is
prorated when:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the employee works hours for wages; or
new text end
new text begin
(2) the employee uses paid sick leave, paid vacation leave, or other paid time off that is
not considered a supplemental benefit payment as defined in section 268B.01, subdivision
37.
new text end
new text begin
Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, benefits
must be paid weekly.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), in a
single benefit year, an applicant may receive up to 12 weeks of benefits under this chapter
related to the applicant's serious health condition or pregnancy and up to 12 weeks of benefits
under this chapter for bonding, safety leave, or family care.
new text end
new text begin
(b) An applicant may receive up to 12 weeks of benefits in a single benefit year for leave
related to one or more qualifying exigencies.
new text end
new text begin
Except for a claim for benefits
for bonding leave, any claim for benefits must be based on a single qualifying event of at
least seven calendar days. Benefits may be paid for a minimum duration of eight consecutive
hours in a week. If an employee on leave claims eight hours at any point during a week, the
minimum duration is satisfied.
new text end
new text begin
(a) A determination or amended determination of benefit
account is final unless an applicant files an appeal within 20 calendar days after the sending
of the determination or amended determination. Every determination or amended
determination of benefit account must contain a prominent statement indicating in clear
language the consequences of not appealing. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in
accordance with section 268B.08.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Any applicant may appeal from a determination or amended determination of benefit
account on the issue of whether services performed constitute employment, whether the
employment is covered employment, and whether money paid constitutes wages.
new text end
new text begin
(a) An application for
family or medical leave benefits is effective the Sunday of the calendar week that the
application was filed. An application for benefits may be backdated one calendar week
before the Sunday of the week the application was actually filed if the applicant requests
the backdating within seven calendar days of the date the application is filed. An application
may be backdated only if the applicant was eligible for the benefit during the period of the
backdating. If an individual attempted to file an application for benefits, but was prevented
from filing an application by the department, the application is effective the Sunday of the
calendar week the individual first attempted to file an application.
new text end
new text begin
(b) A benefit account established under subdivision 2 is effective the date the application
for benefits was effective.
new text end
new text begin
(c) A benefit account, once established, may later be withdrawn if:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the applicant has not been paid any benefits on that benefit account; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) a new application for benefits is filed and a new benefit account is established at the
time of the withdrawal.
new text end
new text begin
A benefit account may be withdrawn after the expiration of the benefit year, and the
new work requirements of subdivision 2, paragraph (b), do not apply if the applicant was
not paid any benefits on the benefit account that is being withdrawn.
new text end
new text begin
A determination or amended determination of eligibility or ineligibility issued under
section 268B.07 that was sent before the withdrawal of the benefit account, remains in effect
and is not voided by the withdrawal of the benefit account.
new text end
new text begin
A continued request for family or medical leave benefits is a certification by an applicant,
done on a weekly basis, that the applicant is unable to perform usual work due to a qualifying
event and meets the ongoing eligibility requirements for benefits under section 268B.06. A
continued request must include information on possible issues of ineligibility.
new text end
new text begin
(a) An applicant may be eligible to receive family
or medical leave benefits for any week if:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the applicant has filed a continued request for benefits for that week under section
.......;
new text end
new text begin
(2) the week for which benefits are requested is in the applicant's benefit year;
new text end
new text begin
(3) the applicant was unable to perform regular work due to a serious health condition,
a qualifying exigency, safety leave, family care, bonding, pregnancy, or recovery from
pregnancy for the period required under subdivision 2; and
new text end
new text begin
(4) the applicant has sufficient wage credits from an employer or employers as defined
in section 268B.01, subdivision 41, to establish a benefit account under section 268B.04.
new text end
new text begin
(b) A self-employed individual or independent contractor who has elected and been
approved for coverage under section 268B.11 need not fulfill the requirement of paragraph
(a), clause (4).
new text end
new text begin
(a) The period for which an applicant is seeking
benefits must be or have been based on a single event of at least seven calendar days' duration
related to pregnancy, recovery from pregnancy, family care, a qualifying exigency, safety
leave, or the applicant's serious health condition. The days need not be consecutive.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Benefits related to bonding need not meet the seven-day qualifying event requirement.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The commissioner must use the rulemaking authority under section 268B.02,
subdivision 3, to adopt rules regarding what serious health conditions and other events are
prospectively presumed to constitute seven-day qualifying events under this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
An applicant is ineligible for family or medical leave benefits for
any portion of a typical workweek:
new text end
new text begin
(1) that occurs before the effective date of a benefit account;
new text end
new text begin
(2) that the applicant has an outstanding misrepresentation overpayment balance under
section 268B.185, subdivision 5, including any penalties and interest;
new text end
new text begin
(3) that the applicant fails or refuses to provide information on an issue of ineligibility
required under section 268B.07, subdivision 2; or
new text end
new text begin
(4) for which the applicant worked for pay.
new text end
new text begin
(a) An applicant
is not eligible to receive benefits for any portion of a typical workweek the applicant is
receiving, has received, or will receive vacation pay, sick pay, or personal time off pay, also
known as "PTO."
new text end
new text begin
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply:
new text end
new text begin
(1) upon a permanent separation from employment;
new text end
new text begin
(2) to payments from a vacation fund administered by a union or a third party not under
the control of the employer; or
new text end
new text begin
(3) to supplemental benefit payments, as defined in section 268B.01, subdivision 37.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Payments under this subdivision are applied to the period immediately following the
later of the date of separation from employment or the date the applicant first becomes
aware that the employer will be making a payment. The date the payment is actually made
or received, or that an applicant must agree to a release of claims, does not affect the
application of this subdivision.
new text end
new text begin
(a) An applicant is
not eligible to receive benefits for any portion of a week in which the applicant is receiving
or has received compensation for loss of wages equal to or in excess of the applicant's
weekly family or medical leave benefit amount under:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the workers' compensation law of this state;
new text end
new text begin
(2) the workers' compensation law of any other state or similar federal law; or
new text end
new text begin
(3) any insurance or trust fund paid in whole or in part by an employer.
new text end
new text begin
(b) This subdivision does not apply to an applicant who has a claim pending for loss of
wages under paragraph (a). If the applicant later receives compensation as a result of the
pending claim, the applicant is subject to paragraph (a) and the family or medical leave
benefits paid are overpaid benefits under section 268B.185.
new text end
new text begin
(c) If the amount of compensation described under paragraph (a) for any week is less
than the applicant's weekly family or medical leave benefit amount, benefits requested for
that week are reduced by the amount of that compensation payment.
new text end
new text begin
(a) An applicant is not eligible
to receive benefits for any week the applicant is receiving, has received, or will receive
separation pay, severance pay, bonus pay, or any other payments paid by an employer
because of, upon, or after separation from employment. This subdivision applies if the
payment is:
new text end
new text begin
(1) considered wages under section 268B.01, subdivision 43; or
new text end
new text begin
(2) subject to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax imposed to fund Social
Security and Medicare.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Payments under this subdivision are applied to the period immediately following the
later of the date of separation from employment or the date the applicant first becomes
aware that the employer will be making a payment. The date the payment is actually made
or received, or that an applicant must agree to a release of claims, does not affect the
application of this paragraph.
new text end
new text begin
(c) This subdivision does not apply to vacation pay, sick pay, personal time off pay, or
supplemental benefit payment under subdivision 4.
new text end
new text begin
(d) This subdivision applies to all the weeks of payment.
new text end
new text begin
(e) Under this subdivision, if the payment with respect to a week is equal to or more
than the applicant's weekly benefit amount, the applicant is ineligible for benefits for that
week. If the payment with respect to a week is less than the applicant's weekly benefit
amount, benefits are reduced by the amount of the payment.
new text end
new text begin
(a) An applicant who is receiving, has
received, or has filed for primary Social Security disability benefits for any week is ineligible
for benefits for that week, unless:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the Social Security Administration approved the collecting of primary Social Security
disability benefits each month the applicant was employed during the base period; or
new text end
new text begin
(2) the applicant provides a statement from an appropriate health care professional who
is aware of the applicant's Social Security disability claim and the basis for that claim,
certifying that the applicant is available for suitable employment.
new text end
new text begin
(b) If an applicant meets the requirements of paragraph (a), clause (1), there is no
deduction from the applicant's weekly benefit amount for any Social Security disability
benefits.
new text end
new text begin
(c) If an applicant meets the requirements of paragraph (a), clause (2), there must be
deducted from the applicant's weekly benefit amount 50 percent of the weekly equivalent
of the primary Social Security disability benefits the applicant is receiving, has received,
or has filed for, with respect to that week.
new text end
new text begin
If the Social Security Administration determines that the applicant is not entitled to receive
primary Social Security disability benefits for any week the applicant has applied for those
benefits, this paragraph does not apply to that week.
new text end
new text begin
(d) Information from the Social Security Administration is conclusive, absent specific
evidence showing that the information was erroneous.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Upon a determination that an applicant is
entitled to benefits, the commissioner must promptly send a notification to each current
employer of the applicant, if any, in accordance with paragraph (b).
new text end
new text begin
(b) The notification under paragraph (a) must include, at a minimum:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the name of the applicant;
new text end
new text begin
(2) that the applicant has applied for and received benefits;
new text end
new text begin
(3) the week the benefits commence;
new text end
new text begin
(4) the weekly benefit amount payable; and
new text end
new text begin
(5) the maximum duration of benefits.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The commissioner must determine any issue of ineligibility
raised by information required from an applicant and send to the applicant and any current
base period employer, by mail or electronic transmission, a document titled a determination
of eligibility or a determination of ineligibility, as is appropriate, within two weeks.
new text end
new text begin
(b) If an applicant obtained benefits through misrepresentation, the department is
authorized to issue a determination of ineligibility within 48 months of the establishment
of the benefit account.
new text end
new text begin
(c) If the department has filed an intervention in a worker's compensation matter under
section 176.361, the department is authorized to issue a determination of ineligibility within
48 months of the establishment of the benefit account.
new text end
new text begin
(d) A determination of eligibility or determination of ineligibility is final unless an appeal
is filed by the applicant within 20 calendar days after sending. The determination must
contain a prominent statement indicating the consequences of not appealing. Proceedings
on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268B.08.
new text end
new text begin
(e) An issue of ineligibility required to be determined under this section includes any
question regarding the denial or allowing of benefits under this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
Unless an appeal has been filed, the commissioner,
on the commissioner's own motion, may reconsider a determination of eligibility or
determination of ineligibility that has not become final and issue an amended determination.
Any amended determination must be sent to the applicant and any employer in the current
base period by mail or electronic transmission. Any amended determination is final unless
an appeal is filed by the applicant within 20 calendar days after sending. Proceedings on
the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268B.08.
new text end
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If a determination or amended determination allows benefits
to an applicant, the family or medical leave benefits must be paid regardless of any appeal
period or any appeal having been filed.
new text end
new text begin
A determination or amended determination that holds an
applicant ineligible for benefits for periods an applicant has been paid benefits is an
overpayment of those family or medical leave benefits. A determination or amended
determination issued under this section that results in an overpayment of benefits must set
out the amount of the overpayment and the requirement under section ....... that the overpaid
benefits must be repaid.
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(a) The commissioner shall designate a chief benefit judge.
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(b) Upon a timely appeal to a determination having been filed or upon a referral for
direct hearing, the chief benefit judge must set a time and date for a de novo due-process
hearing and send notice to an applicant and an employer, by mail or electronic transmission,
not less than ten calendar days before the date of the hearing.
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(c) The commissioner may adopt rules on procedures for hearings. The rules need not
conform to common law or statutory rules of evidence and other technical rules of procedure.
new text end
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(d) The chief benefit judge has discretion regarding the method by which the hearing is
conducted.
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(a) After the conclusion of the hearing, upon the evidence obtained,
the benefit judge must serve by mail or electronic transmission to all parties the decision,
reasons for the decision, and written findings of fact.
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(b) Decisions of a benefit judge are not precedential.
new text end
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Any party, or the commissioner, may, within
30 calendar days after service of the benefit judge's decision, file a request for reconsideration
asking the judge to reconsider that decision.
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Any final determination on a request for
reconsideration may be appealed by any party directly to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
new text end
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(a) Only employees of the department who are attorneys licensed
to practice law in Minnesota may serve as a chief benefit judge, senior benefit judges who
are supervisors, or benefit judges.
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(b) The chief benefit judge must assign a benefit judge to conduct a hearing and may
transfer to another benefit judge any proceedings pending before another benefit judge.
new text end
new text begin
Ninety calendar days from the date of hire, an employee
has a right to leave from employment for any day, or portion of a day, for which the employee
would be eligible for benefits under this chapter, regardless of whether the employee actually
applied for benefits and regardless of whether the employee is covered under a private plan
or the public program under this chapter.
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(a) If the need for leave is foreseeable, an employee must
provide the employer at least 30 days' advance notice before leave under this chapter is to
begin. If 30 days' notice is not practicable because of a lack of knowledge of approximately
when leave will be required to begin, a change in circumstances, or a medical emergency,
notice must be given as soon as practicable. Whether leave is to be continuous or is to be
taken intermittently or on a reduced-schedule basis, notice need only be given one time, but
the employee must advise the employer as soon as practicable if dates of scheduled leave
change or are extended, or were initially unknown. In those cases where the employee is
required to provide at least 30 days' notice of foreseeable leave and does not do so, the
employee must explain the reasons why notice was not practicable upon request from the
employer.
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(b) "As soon as practicable" means as soon as both possible and practical, taking into
account all of the facts and circumstances in the individual case. When an employee becomes
aware of a need for leave under this chapter less than 30 days in advance, it should be
practicable for the employee to provide notice of the need for leave either the same day or
the next day, unless the need for leave is based on a medical emergency. In all cases,
however, the determination of when an employee could practicably provide notice must
take into account the individual facts and circumstances.
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(c) An employee shall provide at least verbal notice sufficient to make the employer
aware that the employee needs leave allowed under this chapter and the anticipated timing
and duration of the leave. An employer may require an employee giving notice of leave to
include a certification for the leave as described in subdivision 5. Such certification, if
required by an employer, is timely when the employee delivers it as soon as practicable
given the circumstances requiring the need for leave, and the required contents of the
certification.
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(d) An employer may require an employee to comply with the employer's usual and
customary notice and procedural requirements for requesting leave, absent unusual
circumstances or other circumstances caused by the reason for the employee's need for
leave. Leave under this chapter must not be delayed or denied where an employer's usual
and customary notice or procedural requirements require notice to be given sooner than set
forth in this subdivision.
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(e) If an employer has failed to provide notice to the employee as required under section
268B.26, paragraph (a), (b), or (e), the employee is not required to comply with the notice
requirements of this subdivision.
new text end
new text begin
Bonding leave taken under this chapter begins at a time requested
by the employee. Bonding leave must begin within 12 months of the birth, adoption, or
placement of a foster child, except that, in the case where the child must remain in the
hospital longer than the mother, the leave must begin within 12 months after the child leaves
the hospital.
new text end
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(a) Leave under this chapter, based
on a serious health condition, may be taken intermittently or on a reduced-leave schedule
if such leave would be medically beneficial to the individual with the serious health condition.
For all other leaves under this chapter, leave may be taken intermittently or on a
reduced-leave schedule. Intermittent leave is leave taken in separate blocks of time due to
a single, seven-day qualifying event. A reduced-leave schedule is a leave schedule that
reduces an employee's usual number of working hours per workweek or hours per workday.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Leave taken intermittently or on a reduced-schedule basis counts toward the
maximums described in section .......
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new text begin
(a) Certification for an applicant taking leave related to the
applicant's serious health condition shall be sufficient if the certification states the date on
which the serious health condition began, the probable duration of the condition, and the
appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care provider as required by
the commissioner.
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(b) Certification for an applicant taking leave to care for a family member with a serious
health condition shall be sufficient if the certification states the date on which the serious
health condition commenced, the probable duration of the condition, the appropriate medical
facts within the knowledge of the health care provider as required by the commissioner, a
statement that the family member requires care, and an estimate of the amount of time that
the family member will require care.
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(c) Certification for an applicant taking leave related to pregnancy shall be sufficient if
the certification states the expected due date and recovery period based on appropriate
medical facts within the knowledge of the health care provider.
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new text begin
(d) Certification for an applicant taking bonding leave because of the birth of the
applicant's child shall be sufficient if the certification includes either the child's birth
certificate or a document issued by the health care provider of the child or the health care
provider of the person who gave birth, stating the child's birth date.
new text end
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(e) Certification for an applicant taking bonding leave because of the placement of a
child with the applicant for adoption or foster care shall be sufficient if the applicant provides
a document issued by the health care provider of the child, an adoption or foster care agency
involved in the placement, or by other individuals as determined by the commissioner that
confirms the placement and the date of placement. To the extent that the status of an applicant
as an adoptive or foster parent changes while an application for benefits is pending, or while
the covered individual is receiving benefits, the applicant must notify the department of
such change in status in writing.
new text end
new text begin
(f) Certification for an applicant taking leave because of a qualifying exigency shall be
sufficient if the certification includes:
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new text begin
(1) a copy of the family member's active-duty orders;
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new text begin
(2) other documentation issued by the United States armed forces; or
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new text begin
(3) other documentation permitted by the commissioner.
new text end
new text begin
(g) Certification for an applicant taking safety leave is sufficient if the certification
includes a court record or documentation signed by a volunteer or employee of a victim's
services organization, an attorney, a police officer, or an antiviolence counselor. The
commissioner must not require disclosure of details relating to an applicant's or applicant's
family member's domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking.
new text end
new text begin
(h) Certifications under paragraphs (a) to (e) must be reviewed and signed by a health
care provider with knowledge of the qualifying event associated with the leave.
new text end
new text begin
(i) For a leave taken on an intermittent or reduced-schedule basis, based on a serious
health condition of an applicant or applicant's family member, the certification under this
subdivision must include an explanation of how such leave would be medically beneficial
to the individual with the serious health condition.
new text end
new text begin
An employer must not retaliate against an
employee for requesting or obtaining benefits, or for exercising any other right under this
chapter.
new text end
new text begin
An employer must not obstruct or impede an
application for leave or benefits or the exercise of any other right under this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
Any agreement to waive, release, or commute rights
to benefits or any other right under this chapter is void.
new text end
new text begin
Any assignment, pledge, or encumbrance of benefits
is void. Benefits are exempt from levy, execution, attachment, or any other remedy provided
for the collection of debt. Any waiver of this subdivision is void.
new text end
new text begin
During any leave for which an employee is entitled to
benefits under this chapter, the employer must maintain coverage under any group insurance
policy, group subscriber contract, or health care plan for the employee and any dependents
as if the employee was not on leave, provided, however, that the employee must continue
to pay any employee share of the cost of such benefits.
new text end
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(a) On return from leave under this chapter,
an employee is entitled to be returned to the same position the employee held when leave
commenced or to an equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay, and other terms and
conditions of employment. An employee is entitled to reinstatement even if the employee
has been replaced or the employee's position has been restructured to accommodate the
employee's absence.
new text end
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(b)(1) An equivalent position is one that is virtually identical to the employee's former
position in terms of pay, benefits, and working conditions, including privileges, prerequisites,
and status. It must involve the same or substantially similar duties and responsibilities,
which must entail substantially equivalent skill, effort, responsibility, and authority.
new text end
new text begin
(2) If an employee is no longer qualified for the position because of the employee's
inability to attend a necessary course, renew a license, fly a minimum number of hours, or
similar condition, as a result of the leave, the employee must be given a reasonable
opportunity to fulfill those conditions upon return from leave.
new text end
new text begin
(c)(1) An employee is entitled to any unconditional pay increases which may have
occurred during the leave period, such as cost of living increases. Pay increases conditioned
upon seniority, length of service, or work performed must be granted in accordance with
the employer's policy or practice with respect to other employees on an equivalent leave
status for a reason that does not qualify for leave under this chapter. An employee is entitled
to be restored to a position with the same or equivalent pay premiums, such as a shift
differential. If an employee departed from a position averaging ten hours of overtime, and
corresponding overtime pay, each week an employee is ordinarily entitled to such a position
on return from leave under this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
(2) Equivalent pay includes any bonus or payment, whether it is discretionary or
nondiscretionary, made to employees consistent with clause (1). If a bonus or other payment
is based on the achievement of a specified goal such as hours worked, products sold, or
perfect attendance, and the employee has not met the goal due to leave under this chapter,
the payment may be denied, unless otherwise paid to employees on an equivalent leave
status for a reason that does not qualify for leave under this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
(d) Benefits under this section include all benefits provided or made available to
employees by an employer, including group life insurance, health insurance, disability
insurance, sick leave, annual leave, educational benefits, and pensions, regardless of whether
benefits are provided by a practice or written policy of an employer through an employee
benefit plan as defined in section 3(3) of United States Code, title 29, section 1002(3).
new text end
new text begin
(1) At the end of an employee's leave under this chapter, benefits must be resumed in
the same manner and at the same levels as provided when the leave began, and subject to
any changes in benefit levels that may have taken place during the period of leave affecting
the entire workforce, unless otherwise elected by the employee. Upon return from a leave
under this chapter, an employee must not be required to requalify for any benefits the
employee enjoyed before leave began, including family or dependent coverages.
new text end
new text begin
(2) An employee may, but is not entitled to, accrue any additional benefits or seniority
during a leave under this chapter. Benefits accrued at the time leave began must be available
to an employee upon return from leave.
new text end
new text begin
(3) With respect to pension and other retirement plans, leave under this chapter must
not be treated as or counted toward a break in service for purposes of vesting and eligibility
to participate. If the plan requires an employee to be employed on a specific date in order
to be credited with a year of service for vesting, contributions, or participation purposes,
an employee on leave under this chapter must be treated as employed on that date. Periods
of leave under this chapter need not be treated as credited service for purposes of benefit
accrual, vesting, and eligibility to participate.
new text end
new text begin
(4) Employees on leave under this chapter must be treated as if they continued to work
for purposes of changes to benefit plans. Employees on leave under this chapter are entitled
to changes in benefit plans, except those which may be dependent upon seniority or accrual
during the leave period, immediately upon return from leave or to the same extent they
would have qualified if no leave had been taken.
new text end
new text begin
(e) An equivalent position must have substantially similar duties, conditions,
responsibilities, privileges, and status as the employee's original position.
new text end
new text begin
(1) The employee must be reinstated to the same or a geographically proximate worksite
from where the employee had previously been employed. If the employee's original worksite
has been closed, the employee is entitled to the same rights as if the employee had not been
on leave when the worksite closed.
new text end
new text begin
(2) The employee is ordinarily entitled to return to the same shift or the same or an
equivalent work schedule.
new text end
new text begin
(3) The employee must have the same or an equivalent opportunity for bonuses,
profit-sharing, and other similar discretionary and nondiscretionary payments.
new text end
new text begin
(4) This chapter does not prohibit an employer from accommodating an employee's
request to be restored to a different shift, schedule, or position which better suits the
employee's personal needs on return from leave, or to offer a promotion to a better position.
However, an employee must not be induced by the employer to accept a different position
against the employee's wishes.
new text end
new text begin
(f) The requirement that an employee be restored to the same or equivalent job with the
same or equivalent pay, benefits, and terms and conditions of employment does not extend
to de minimis, intangible, or unmeasurable aspects of the job.
new text end
new text begin
An employee has no
greater right to reinstatement or to other benefits and conditions of employment than if the
employee had been continuously employed during the period of leave under this chapter.
An employer must be able to show that an employee would not otherwise have been
employed at the time reinstatement is requested in order to deny restoration to employment.
new text end
new text begin
(1) If an employee is laid off during the course of taking a leave under this chapter and
employment is terminated, the employer's responsibility to continue the leave, maintain
group health plan benefits, and restore the employee cease at the time the employee is laid
off, provided the employer has no continuing obligations under a collective bargaining
agreement or otherwise. An employer would have the burden of proving that an employee
would have been laid off during the period of leave under this chapter and, therefore, would
not be entitled to restoration. Restoration to a job slated for layoff when the employee's
original position would not meet the requirements of an equivalent position.
new text end
new text begin
(2) If a shift has been eliminated or overtime has been decreased, an employee would
not be entitled to return to work that shift or the original overtime hours upon restoration.
However, if a position on, for example, a night shift has been filled by another employee,
the employee is entitled to return to the same shift on which employed before taking leave
under this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
(3) If an employee was hired for a specific term or only to perform work on a discrete
project, the employer has no obligation to restore the employee if the employment term or
project is over and the employer would not otherwise have continued to employ the employee.
new text end
new text begin
(a) In addition to any other remedies available to an employee in
law or equity, an employer who violates the provisions of this section is liable to any
employee affected for:
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new text begin
(1) damages equal to the amount of:
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new text begin
(i) any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation denied or lost to such
employee by reason of the violation, or, in cases in which wages, salary, employment
benefits, or other compensation have not been denied or lost to the employee, any actual
monetary losses sustained by the employee as a direct result of the violation; and
new text end
new text begin
(ii) reasonable interest on the amount described in item (i); and
new text end
new text begin
(2) such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement,
and promotion.
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new text begin
(b) An action to recover damages or equitable relief prescribed in paragraph (a) may be
maintained against any employer in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction by
any one or more employees for and on behalf of:
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new text begin
(1) the employees; or
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new text begin
(2) the employees and other employees similarly situated.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The court in an action under this section must, in addition to any judgment awarded
to the plaintiff or plaintiffs, allow reasonable attorney fees, reasonable expert witness fees,
and other costs of the action to be paid by the defendant.
new text end
new text begin
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow an employee to recover damages
from an employer for the denial of benefits under this chapter by the department, unless the
employer unlawfully interfered with the application for benefits under subdivision 2.
new text end
new text begin
Employers may apply to the commissioner
for approval to meet their obligations under this chapter through the substitution of a private
plan that provides paid family, paid medical, or paid family and medical benefits. In order
to be approved as meeting an employer's obligations under this chapter, a private plan must
confer all of the same rights, protections, and benefits provided to employees under this
chapter, including but not limited to benefits under section 268B.04 and employment
protections under section 268B.09. An employee covered by a private plan under this section
retains all applicable rights and remedies under section 268B.09.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The commissioner
must approve an application for private provision of the medical benefit program if the
commissioner determines:
new text end
new text begin
(1) all of the employees of the employer are to be covered under the provisions of the
employer plan;
new text end
new text begin
(2) eligibility requirements for benefits and leave are no more restrictive than as provided
under this chapter;
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new text begin
(3) the weekly benefits payable under the private plan for any week are at least equal to
the weekly benefit amount payable under this chapter, taking into consideration any coverage
with respect to concurrent employment by another employer;
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new text begin
(4) the total number of weeks for which benefits are payable under the private plan is
at least equal to the total number of weeks for which benefits would have been payable
under this chapter;
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new text begin
(5) no greater amount is required to be paid by employees toward the cost of benefits
under the employer plan than by this chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(6) wage replacement benefits are stated in the plan separately and distinctly from other
benefits;
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new text begin
(7) the private plan will provide benefits and leave for any serious health condition or
pregnancy for which benefits are payable, and leave provided, under this chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(8) the private plan will impose no additional condition or restriction on the use of
medical benefits beyond those explicitly authorized by this chapter or regulations
promulgated pursuant to this chapter;
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new text begin
(9) the private plan will allow any employee covered under the private plan who is
eligible to receive medical benefits under this chapter to receive medical benefits under the
employer plan; and
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new text begin
(10) coverage will continue under the private plan while an employee remains employed
by the employer.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a private plan may provide shorter durations of leave
and benefit eligibility if the total dollar value of wage replacement benefits under the private
plan for an employee for any particular qualifying event meets or exceeds what the total
dollar value would be under the public family and medical benefit program.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The commissioner
must approve an application for private provision of the family benefit program if the
commissioner determines:
new text end
new text begin
(1) all of the employees of the employer are to be covered under the provisions of the
employer plan;
new text end
new text begin
(2) eligibility requirements for benefits and leave are no more restrictive than as provided
under this chapter;
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new text begin
(3) the weekly benefits payable under the private plan for any week are at least equal to
the weekly benefit amount payable under this chapter, taking into consideration any coverage
with respect to concurrent employment by another employer;
new text end
new text begin
(4) the total number of weeks for which benefits are payable under the private plan is
at least equal to the total number of weeks for which benefits would have been payable
under this chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(5) no greater amount is required to be paid by employees toward the cost of benefits
under the employer plan than by this chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(6) wage replacement benefits are stated in the plan separately and distinctly from other
benefits;
new text end
new text begin
(7) the private plan will provide benefits and leave for any care for a family member
with a serious health condition, bonding with a child, qualifying exigency, or safety leave
event for which benefits are payable, and leave provided, under this chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(8) the private plan will impose no additional condition or restriction on the use of family
benefits beyond those explicitly authorized by this chapter or regulations promulgated
pursuant to this chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(9) the private plan will allow any employee covered under the private plan who is
eligible to receive medical benefits under this chapter to receive medical benefits under the
employer plan; and
new text end
new text begin
(10) coverage will continue under the private plan while an employee remains employed
by the employer.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a private plan may provide shorter durations of leave
and benefit eligibility if the total dollar value of wage replacement benefits under the private
plan for an employee for any particular qualifying event meets or exceeds what the total
dollar value would be under the public family and medical benefit program.
new text end
new text begin
Nothing in this section prohibits an
employer from meeting the requirements of a private plan through a private insurance
product. If the employer plan involves a private insurance product, that insurance product
must conform to any applicable law or rule.
new text end
new text begin
An employer with an approved
private plan is not required to pay premiums established under section ....... An employer
with an approved private plan is responsible for a private plan approval and oversight fee
equal to $250 for employers with fewer than 50 employees, $500 for employers with 50 to
499 employees, and $1,000 for employers with 500 or more employees. The employer must
pay this fee (1) upon initial application for private plan approval, and (2) any time the
employer applies to amend the private plan. The commissioner must review and report on
the adequacy of this fee to cover private plan administrative costs annually beginning October
1, 2022, as part of the annual report established in section 268B.21.
new text end
new text begin
A private plan under this section must be in effect for a period
of at least one year and, thereafter, continuously unless the commissioner finds that the
employer has given notice of withdrawal from the plan in a manner specified by the
commissioner in this section or rule. The plan may be withdrawn by the employer within
30 days of the effective date of any law increasing the benefit amounts or within 30 days
of the date of any change in the rate of premiums. If the plan is not withdrawn, it must be
amended to conform to provide the increased benefit amount or change in the rate of the
employee's premium on the date of the increase or change.
new text end
new text begin
An employer may appeal any adverse action regarding that employer's
private plan to the commissioner, in a manner specified by the commissioner.
new text end
new text begin
(a) An employee is no longer covered by an
approved private plan if a leave under this chapter occurs after the employment relationship
with the private plan employer ends, or if the commissioner revokes the approval of the
private plan.
new text end
new text begin
(b) An employee no longer covered by an approved private plan is, if otherwise eligible,
immediately entitled to benefits under this chapter to the same extent as though there had
been no approval of the private plan.
new text end
new text begin
An employer with a private plan
must provide a notice prepared by or approved by the commissioner regarding the private
plan consistent with section .......
new text end
new text begin
(a) The commissioner must approve any amendment to a private
plan adjusting the provisions thereof, if the commissioner determines:
new text end
new text begin
(1) that the plan, as amended, will conform to the standards set forth in this chapter; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) that notice of the amendment has been delivered to all affected employees at least
ten days before the submission of the amendment.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Any amendments approved under this subdivision are effective on the date of the
commissioner's approval, unless the commissioner and the employer agree on a later date.
new text end
new text begin
A private plan in effect at the time a successor acquires
the employer organization, trade, or business, or substantially all the assets thereof, or a
distinct and severable portion of the organization, trade, or business, and continues its
operation without substantial reduction of personnel resulting from the acquisition, must
continue the approved private plan and must not withdraw the plan without a specific request
for withdrawal in a manner and at a time specified by the commissioner. A successor may
terminate a private plan with notice to the commissioner and within 90 days from the date
of the acquisition.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The commissioner may
terminate any private plan if the commissioner determines the employer:
new text end
new text begin
(1) failed to pay benefits;
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new text begin
(2) failed to pay benefits in a timely manner, consistent with the requirements of this
chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(3) failed to submit reports as required by this chapter or rule adopted under this chapter;
or
new text end
new text begin
(4) otherwise failed to comply with this chapter or rule adopted under this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The commissioner must give notice of the intention to terminate a plan to the employer
at least ten days before taking any final action. The notice must state the effective date and
the reason for the termination.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The employer may, within ten days from mailing or personal service of the notice,
file an appeal to the commissioner in the time, manner, method, and procedure provided by
the commissioner under subdivision 7.
new text end
new text begin
(d) The payment of benefits must not be delayed during an employer's appeal of the
revocation of approval of a private plan.
new text end
new text begin
(e) If the commissioner revokes approval of an employer's private plan, that employer
is ineligible to apply for approval of another private plan for a period of three years, beginning
on the date of revocation.
new text end
new text begin
(a) The commissioner may assess the following monetary
penalties against an employer with an approved private plan found to have violated this
chapter:
new text end
new text begin
(1) $1,000 for the first violation; and
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new text begin
(2) $2,000 for the second, and each successive violation.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The commissioner must waive collection of any penalty if the employer corrects the
violation within 30 days of receiving a notice of the violation and the notice is for a first
violation.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The commissioner may waive collection of any penalty if the commissioner determines
the violation to be an inadvertent error by the employer.
new text end
new text begin
(d) Monetary penalties collected under this section shall be deposited in the account.
new text end
new text begin
(e) Assessment of penalties under this subdivision may be appealed as provided by the
commissioner under subdivision 7.
new text end
new text begin
Employers with an approved private
plan must maintain all reports, information, and records as relating to the private plan and
claims for a period of six years from creation and provide to the commissioner upon request.
new text end
new text begin
The commissioner may investigate and audit plans
approved under this section both before and after the plans are approved.
new text end
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(a) A self-employed individual or independent
contractor may file with the commissioner by electronic transmission in a format prescribed
by the commissioner an application to be entitled to benefits under this chapter for a period
not less than 104 consecutive calendar weeks. Upon the approval of the commissioner, sent
by United States mail or electronic transmission, the individual is entitled to benefits under
this chapter beginning the calendar quarter after the date of approval or beginning in a later
calendar quarter if requested by the self-employed individual or independent contractor.
The individual ceases to be entitled to benefits as of the first day of January of any calendar
year only if, at least 30 calendar days before the first day of January, the individual has filed
with the commissioner by electronic transmission in a format prescribed by the commissioner
a notice to that effect.
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(b) The commissioner may terminate any application approved under this section with
30 calendar days' notice sent by United States mail or electronic transmission if the
self-employed individual is delinquent on any premiums due under this chapter. If an
approved application is terminated in this manner during the first 104 consecutive calendar
weeks of election, the self-employed individual remains obligated to pay the premium under
subdivision 3 for the remainder of that 104-week period.
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A self-employed individual who applies for coverage under this
section must provide the commissioner with (1) the amount of the individual's net earnings
from self-employment, if any, from the two most recent taxable years and all tax documents
necessary to prove the accuracy of the amounts reported, and (2) any other documentation
the commissioner requires. A self-employed individual who is covered under this chapter
must annually provide the commissioner with the amount of the individual's net earnings
from self-employment within 30 days of filing a federal income tax return.
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A self-employed individual who elects to receive coverage under
this chapter must annually pay a premium equal to one-half the percentage in section
268B.14, subdivision 5, clause (1), times the lesser of:
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(1) the individual's self-employment premium base; or
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(2) the maximum earnings subject to the FICA Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability
Insurance tax.
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, a self-employed individual
who has applied to and been approved for coverage by the commissioner under this section
is entitled to benefits on the same basis as an employee under this chapter, except that a
self-employed individual's weekly benefit amount under section 268B.04, subdivision 1,
must be calculated as a percentage of the self-employed individual's self-employment
premium base, rather than wages.
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(a) Each employer must submit, under the account
provided for in section ......, a quarterly wage detail report by electronic transmission, in a
format prescribed by the commissioner. The report must include for each employee in
covered employment during the calendar quarter, the employee's name, Social Security
number, the total wages paid to the employee, and total number of paid hours worked. For
employees exempt from the definition of employee in section 177.23, subdivision 7, clause
(6), the employer must report 40 hours worked for each week any duties were performed
by a full-time employee and must report a reasonable estimate of the hours worked for each
week duties were performed by a part-time employee. In addition, the wage detail report
must include the number of employees employed during the payroll period that includes
the 12th day of each calendar month and, if required by the commissioner, the report must
be broken down by business location and, if section ....... apply, by separate unit. The report
is due and must be received by the commissioner on or before the last day of the month
following the end of the calendar quarter. The commissioner may delay the due date on a
specific calendar quarter in the event the department is unable to accept wage detail reports
electronically.
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(b) The employer may report the wages paid to the next lower whole dollar amount.
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(c) An employer need not include the name of the employee or other required information
on the wage detail report if disclosure is specifically exempted from being reported by
federal law.
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(d) A wage detail report must be submitted for each calendar quarter even though no
wages were paid, unless the employer has notified the commissioner, under section ......, of
termination of business.
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Each employer must submit the
quarterly wage detail report by electronic transmission in a format prescribed by the
commissioner. The commissioner has the discretion to accept wage detail reports that are
submitted by any other means or the commissioner may return the report submitted by other
than electronic transmission to the employer, and reports returned are considered as not
submitted and the late fees under subdivision 3 may be imposed.
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(a) Any employer that fails to submit
the quarterly wage detail report when due must pay a late fee of $10 per employee, computed
based upon the highest of:
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(1) the number of employees reported on the last wage detail report submitted;
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(2) the number of employees reported in the corresponding quarter of the prior calendar
year; or
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(3) if no wage detail report has ever been submitted, the number of employees listed at
the time of employer registration.
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The late fee is canceled if the wage detail report is received within 30 calendar days after
a demand for the report is sent to the employer by mail or electronic transmission. A late
fee assessed an employer may not be canceled more than twice each 12 months. The amount
of the late fee assessed may not be less than $250.
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(b) If the wage detail report is not received in a manner and format prescribed by the
commissioner within 30 calendar days after demand is sent under paragraph (a), the late
fee assessed under paragraph (a) doubles and a renewed demand notice and notice of the
increased late fee will be sent to the employer by mail or electronic transmission.
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(c) Late fees due under this subdivision may be canceled, in whole or in part, under
section .......
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(a) Any employer that submits the wage
detail report, but fails to include all required employee information or enters erroneous
information, is subject to an administrative service fee of $25 for each employee for whom
the information is partially missing or erroneous.
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(b) Any employer that submits the wage detail report, but fails to include an employee,
is subject to an administrative service fee equal to two percent of the total wages for each
employee for whom the information is completely missing.
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The fees provided for in subdivisions 3 and 4 are in addition to interest
and other penalties imposed by this chapter and are collected in the same manner as
delinquent taxes and credited to the account.
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new text begin
The commissioner must maintain a premium account for each employer. The
commissioner must assess the premium account for all the premiums due under section
268B.14, and credit the account with all premiums paid.
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(a) Family and medical leave premiums accrue and become
payable by each employer for each calendar year on the taxable wages that the employer
paid to employees in covered employment.
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Each employer must pay premiums quarterly, at the premium rate defined under this
section, on the taxable wages paid to each employee. The commissioner must compute the
premium due from the wage detail report required under section 268B.12 and notify the
employer of the premium due. The premiums must be paid to the family and medical benefit
insurance account and must be received by the department on or before the last day of the
month following the end of the calendar quarter.
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(b) If for any reason the wages on the wage detail report under section 268B.12 are
adjusted for any quarter, the commissioner must recompute the premiums due for that quarter
and assess the employer for any amount due or credit the employer as appropriate.
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(a) Every employer must make
any payments due under this chapter by electronic payment.
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(b) All third-party processors, paying on behalf of a client company, must make any
payments due under this chapter by electronic payment.
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(c) Regardless of paragraph (a) or (b), the commissioner has the discretion to accept
payment by other means.
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Notwithstanding section 177.24, subdivision 4, or
181.06, subdivision 1, employers and covered business entities may deduct up to 50 percent
of annual premiums paid under this section from employee wages. Such deductions for any
given employee must be in equal proportion to the premiums paid based on the wages of
that employee, and all employees of an employer must be subject to the same percentage
deduction. Deductions under this section must not cause an employee's wage, after the
deduction, to fall below the rate required to be paid to the worker by law, including any
applicable statute, regulation, rule, ordinance, government resolution or policy, contract, or
other legal authority, whichever rate of pay is greater.
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(a) The maximum wages subject
to premium in a calendar year is equal to the maximum earnings in that year subject to the
FICA Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance tax rounded to the nearest $1,000.
new text end
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(b) The maximum payment amount subject to premium in a calendar year, under
subdivision ....... is equal to the maximum earnings in that year subject to the FICA Old-Age,
Survivors, and Disability Insurance tax.
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The employer premium rates for the calendar year
beginning January 1, 2023, shall be as follows:
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(1) for employers participating in both family and medical benefit programs, 0.6 percent;
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(2) for an employer participating in only the medical benefit program and with an
approved private plan for the family benefit program, 0.486 percent; and
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(3) for an employer participating in only the family benefit program and with an approved
private plan for the medical benefit program, 0.114 percent.
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(a) Each calendar year following the calendar
year beginning January 1, 2025, the commissioner must adjust the annual premium rates
using the formula in paragraph (b).
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(b) To calculate the employer rates for a calendar year, the commissioner must:
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(1) multiply 1.45 times the amount disbursed from the account for the 52-week period
ending September 30 of the prior year;
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(2) subtract the amount in the account on that September 30 from the resulting figure;
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(3) divide the resulting figure by twice the total wages in covered employment of
employees of employers without approved private plans under section 268B.10 for either
the family or medical benefit program. For employers with an approved private plan for
either the medical benefit program or the family benefit program, but not both, count only
the proportion of wages in covered employment associated with the program for which the
employer does not have an approved private plan; and
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(4) round the resulting figure down to the nearest one-hundredth of one percent.
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(c) The commissioner must apportion the premium rate between the family and medical
benefit programs based on the relative proportion of expenditures for each program during
the preceding year.
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All premiums collected under this section must be
deposited into the account.
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new text begin
The failure of an employer to pay
premiums does not impact the right of an employee to benefits, or any other right, under
this chapter.
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new text begin
If the Internal Revenue Service determines that benefits are subject to federal income
tax, and an applicant elects to have federal income tax deducted and withheld from the
applicant's benefits, the commissioner must deduct and withhold the amount specified in
the Internal Revenue Code in a manner consistent with state law.
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Any amount due from an
employer, as computed by the commissioner, is presumed to be correctly determined and
assessed, and the burden is upon the employer to show its incorrectness. A statement by the
commissioner of the amount due is admissible in evidence in any court or administrative
proceeding and is prima facie evidence of the facts in the statement.
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(a) Any payment received from an employer must be
applied in the following order:
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(1) family and medical leave premiums under this chapter; then
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(2) interest on past due premiums; then
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(3) penalties, late fees, administrative service fees, and costs.
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(b) Paragraph (a) is the priority used for all payments received from an employer,
regardless of how the employer may designate the payment to be applied, except when:
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(1) there is an outstanding lien and the employer designates that the payment made
should be applied to satisfy the lien;
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new text begin
(2) the payment is specifically designated by the employer to be applied to an outstanding
overpayment of benefits of an applicant;
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new text begin
(3) a court or administrative order directs that the payment be applied to a specific
obligation;
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new text begin
(4) a preexisting payment plan provides for the application of payment; or
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(5) the commissioner, under the compromise authority of section ......., agrees to apply
the payment to a different priority.
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Only if an employer fails to make all necessary
records available for an audit under section ....... and the commissioner has reason to believe
the employer has not reported all the required wages on the quarterly wage detail reports,
may the commissioner then estimate the amount of premium due and assess the employer
the estimated amount due.
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(a) Any employer and any applicant subject to section ....... that fails to
pay any amount when due under this chapter is liable for any filing fees, recording fees,
sheriff fees, costs incurred by referral to any public or private collection agency, or litigation
costs, including attorney fees, incurred in the collection of the amounts due.
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(b) If any tendered payment of any amount due is not honored when presented to a
financial institution for payment, any costs assessed the department by the financial institution
and a fee of $25 must be assessed to the person.
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new text begin
(c) Costs and fees collected under this subdivision are credited to the administration
account.
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If any amounts due from an employer under
this chapter are not received on the date due, the commissioner must assess interest on any
amount that remains unpaid. Interest is assessed at the rate of one percent per month or any
part of a month. Interest is not assessed on unpaid interest. Interest collected under this
subdivision is credited to the account.
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new text begin
Regardless of section 549.09, if a judgment is entered
upon any past due amounts from an employer under this chapter, the unpaid judgment bears
interest at the rate specified in subdivision 5 until the date of payment.
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new text begin
(a) If an employer makes an application for a
credit adjustment of any amount paid under this chapter within four years of the date that
the payment was due, in a manner and format prescribed by the commissioner, and the
commissioner determines that the payment or any portion thereof was erroneous, the
commissioner must make an adjustment and issue a credit without interest. If a credit cannot
be used, the commissioner must refund, without interest, the amount erroneously paid. The
commissioner, on the commissioner's own motion, may make a credit adjustment or refund
under this subdivision.
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(b) Any refund returned to the commissioner is considered unclaimed property under
chapter 345.
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new text begin
(c) If a credit adjustment or refund is denied in whole or in part, a determination of denial
must be sent to the employer by mail or electronic transmission. The determination of denial
is final unless an employer files an appeal within 20 calendar days after sending. Proceedings
on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268B.08.
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(d) If an employer receives a credit adjustment or refund under this section, the employer
must determine the amount of any overpayment attributable to a deduction from employee
wages under section ....... and return any amount erroneously deducted to each affected
employee.
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new text begin
In the event of any
distribution of an employer's assets according to an order of any court, including any
receivership, assignment for benefit of creditors, adjudicated insolvency, or similar
proceeding, premiums then or thereafter due must be paid in full before all other claims
except claims for wages of not more than $1,000 per former employee, earned within six
months of the commencement of the proceedings. In the event of an employer's adjudication
in bankruptcy under federal law, premiums then or thereafter due are entitled to the priority
provided in that law for taxes due in any state.
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new text begin
As used in this section:
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(1) "child support agency" means the public agency responsible for child support
enforcement, including federally approved comprehensive Tribal IV-D programs; and
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new text begin
(2) "child support obligations" means obligations that are being enforced by a child
support agency in accordance with a plan described in United States Code, title 42, sections
454 and 455 of the Social Security Act that has been approved by the secretary of health
and human services under part D of title IV of the Social Security Act. This does not include
any type of spousal maintenance or foster care payments.
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In an application for family or medical leave benefits,
the applicant must disclose if child support obligations are owed and, if so, in what state
and county. If child support obligations are owed, the commissioner must, if the applicant
establishes a benefit account, notify the child support agency.
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new text begin
The commissioner must deduct and withhold from
any family or medical leave benefits payable to an applicant who owes child support
obligations:
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(1) the amount required under a proper order of a court or administrative agency; or
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(2) if clause (1) is not applicable, the amount determined under an agreement under
United States Code, title 42, section 454 (20)(B)(i), of the Social Security Act; or
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(3) if clause (1) or (2) is not applicable, the amount specified by the applicant.
new text end
new text begin
Any amount deducted and withheld must be paid to the child support
agency, must for all purposes be treated as if it were paid to the applicant as family or
medical leave benefits and paid by the applicant to the child support agency in satisfaction
of the applicant's child support obligations.
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The child support agency must pay the costs incurred by
the commissioner in the implementation and administration of this section and sections
518A.50 and 518A.53.
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new text begin
(a) The commissioner may compromise in whole or in part any action, determination,
or decision that affects only an employer and not an applicant. This paragraph applies if it
is determined by a court of law, or a confession of judgment, that an applicant, while
employed, wrongfully took from the employer $500 or more in money or property.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The commissioner may at any time compromise any premium or reimbursement due
from an employer under this chapter.
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new text begin
(c) Any compromise involving an amount over $10,000 must be authorized by an attorney
licensed to practice law in Minnesota who is an employee of the department designated by
the commissioner for that purpose.
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(d) Any compromise must be in the best interest of the state of Minnesota.
new text end
new text begin
From July 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, the commissioner may spend up to
seven percent of premiums collected under section ....... for administration of this chapter.
Beginning January 1, 2024, and each calendar year thereafter, the commissioner may spend
up to seven percent of projected benefit payments for that calendar year for the administration
of this chapter. The department may enter into interagency agreements with the Department
of Labor and Industry, including agreements to transfer funds, subject to the limit in this
section, for the Department of Labor and Industry to fulfill its enforcement authority of this
chapter.
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Beginning in fiscal year 2023, the commissioner must use at least 0.5 percent of revenue
collected under this chapter for the purpose of outreach, education, and technical assistance
for employees, employers, and self-employed individuals eligible to elect coverage under
section 268B.11. The department may enter into interagency agreements with the Department
of Labor and Industry, including agreements to transfer funds, subject to the limit in section
......., to accomplish the requirements of this section. At least one-half of the amount spent
under this section must be used for grants to community-based groups.
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(a) Any applicant who (1) because of a
determination or amended determination issued under this chapter, or (2) because of a
benefit law judge's decision under section 268B.08, has received any family or medical
leave benefits that the applicant was held not entitled to, is overpaid the benefits and must
promptly repay the benefits to the family and medical benefit insurance account.
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new text begin
(b) If the applicant fails to repay the benefits overpaid, including any penalty and interest
assessed under subdivisions 2 and 4, the total due may be collected by the methods allowed
under state and federal law.
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(a) An applicant has committed
misrepresentation if the applicant is overpaid benefits by making a false statement or
representation without a good faith belief as to the correctness of the statement or
representation.
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new text begin
(b) After the discovery of facts indicating misrepresentation, the commissioner must
issue a determination of overpayment penalty assessing a penalty equal to 20 percent of the
amount overpaid. This penalty is in addition to penalties under section 268B.19.
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(c) Unless the applicant files an appeal within 20 calendar days after the sending of a
determination of overpayment penalty to the applicant by mail or electronic transmission,
the determination is final. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in accordance with
section 268B.08.
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(d) A determination of overpayment penalty must state the methods of collection the
commissioner may use to recover the overpayment, penalty, and interest assessed. Money
received in repayment of overpaid benefits, penalties, and interest is first applied to the
benefits overpaid, second to the penalty amount due, and third to any interest due.
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(e) The department is authorized to issue a determination of overpayment penalty under
this subdivision within 48 months of the establishment of the benefit account upon which
the benefits were obtained through misrepresentation.
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The family and
medical leave enforcement account is created in the state treasury. Any penalties and interest
collected under this section shall be deposited into the account and shall be used only for
the purposes of administering and enforcing this title. Only the commissioner may authorize
expenditures from the account.
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For any family and medical leave benefits obtained by
misrepresentation, and any penalty amounts assessed under subdivision 2, the commissioner
must assess interest on any amount that remains unpaid beginning 30 calendar days after
the date of a determination of overpayment penalty. Interest is assessed at the rate of one
percent per month or any part of a month. A determination of overpayment penalty must
state that interest will be assessed. Interest is not assessed on unpaid interest. Interest collected
under this subdivision is credited to the family and medical leave enforcement account.
new text end
new text begin
The commissioner may offset from any future family and
medical leave benefits otherwise payable the amount of a nonmisrepresentation overpayment.
Except when the nonmisrepresentation overpayment resulted because the applicant failed
to report deductible earnings or deductible or benefit delaying payments, no single offset
may exceed 50 percent of the amount of the payment from which the offset is made.
new text end
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(a) If family and medical leave benefits overpaid
for reasons other than misrepresentation are not repaid or offset from subsequent benefits
within six years after the date of the determination or decision holding the applicant overpaid,
the commissioner must cancel the overpayment balance, and no administrative or legal
proceedings may be used to enforce collection of those amounts.
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(b) If family and medical leave benefits overpaid because of misrepresentation including
penalties and interest are not repaid within ten years after the date of the determination of
overpayment penalty, the commissioner must cancel the overpayment balance and any
penalties and interest due, and no administrative or legal proceeding may be used to enforce
collection of those amounts.
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new text begin
(c) The commissioner may cancel at any time any overpayment, including penalties and
interest that the commissioner determines is uncollectible because of death or bankruptcy.
new text end
new text begin
(a) If the department is required to pay any court
fees in an attempt to enforce collection of overpaid family and medical leave benefits,
penalties, or interest, the amount of the court fees may be added to the total amount due.
new text end
new text begin
(b) If an applicant who has been overpaid family and medical leave benefits because of
misrepresentation seeks to have any portion of the debt discharged under the federal
bankruptcy code, and the department files an objection in bankruptcy court to the discharge,
the cost of any court fees may be added to the debt if the bankruptcy court does not discharge
the debt.
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(c) If the Internal Revenue Service assesses the department a fee for offsetting from a
federal tax refund the amount of any overpayment, including penalties and interest, the
amount of the fee may be added to the total amount due. The offset amount must be put in
the family and medical leave enforcement account and that amount credited to the total
amount due from the applicant.
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(a) The commissioner has discretion regarding
the recovery of any overpayment for reasons other than misrepresentation. Regardless of
any law to the contrary, the commissioner is not required to refer any overpayment for
reasons other than misrepresentation to a public or private collection agency, including
agencies of this state.
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(b) Amounts overpaid for reasons other than misrepresentation are not considered a
"debt" to the state of Minnesota for purposes of any reporting requirements to the
commissioner of management and budget.
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new text begin
(c) A pending appeal under section 268B.08 does not suspend the assessment of interest,
penalties, or collection of an overpayment.
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new text begin
(d) Section 16A.626 applies to the repayment by an applicant of any overpayment,
penalty, or interest.
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new text begin
(a) Any applicant who makes a false statement or representation without a good faith
belief as to the correctness of the statement or representation in order to obtain or in an
attempt to obtain benefits may be assessed, in addition to any other penalties, an
administrative penalty of being ineligible for benefits for 13 to 104 weeks.
new text end
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(b) A determination of ineligibility setting out the weeks the applicant is ineligible must
be sent to the applicant by mail or electronic transmission. The department is authorized to
issue a determination of ineligibility under this subdivision within 48 months of the
establishment of the benefit account upon which the benefits were obtained, or attempted
to be obtained. Unless an appeal is filed within 20 calendar days of sending, the determination
is final. Proceedings on the appeal are conducted in accordance with section 268B.08.
new text end
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(a) The commissioner must penalize an employer if that employer or any employee,
officer, or agent of that employer is in collusion with any applicant for the purpose of
assisting the applicant in receiving benefits fraudulently. The penalty is $500 or the amount
of benefits determined to be overpaid, whichever is greater.
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new text begin
(b) The commissioner must penalize an employer if that employer or any employee,
officer, or agent of that employer:
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(1) made a false statement or representation knowing it to be false;
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new text begin
(2) made a false statement or representation without a good-faith belief as to the
correctness of the statement or representation; or
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(3) knowingly failed to disclose a material fact.
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(c) The penalty is the greater of $500 or 50 percent of the following resulting from the
employer's action:
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(1) the amount of any overpaid benefits to an applicant;
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(2) the amount of benefits not paid to an applicant that would otherwise have been paid;
or
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(3) the amount of any payment required from the employer under this chapter that was
not paid.
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new text begin
(d) Penalties must be paid within 30 calendar days of issuance of the determination of
penalty and credited to the account.
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new text begin
(e) The determination of penalty is final unless the employer files an appeal within 30
calendar days after the sending of the determination of penalty to the employer by United
States mail or electronic transmission.
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new text begin
(a) Each employer must keep true and accurate
records on individuals performing services for the employer, containing the information
the commissioner may require under this chapter. The records must be kept for a period of
not less than four years in addition to the current calendar year.
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(b) For the purpose of administering this chapter, the commissioner has the power to
audit, examine, or cause to be supplied or copied, any books, correspondence, papers,
records, or memoranda that are the property of, or in the possession of, an employer or any
other person at any reasonable time and as often as may be necessary. Subpoenas may be
issued under section 268B.22 as necessary, for an audit.
new text end
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(c) An employer or other person that refuses to allow an audit of its records by the
department or that fails to make all necessary records available for audit in the state upon
request of the commissioner may be assessed an administrative penalty of $500. The penalty
collected is credited to the family and medical benefit insurance account.
new text end
new text begin
(d) An employer, or other person, that fails to provide a weekly breakdown of money
earned by an applicant upon request of the commissioner, information necessary for the
detection of applicant misrepresentation under section ......., may be assessed an
administrative penalty of $100. Any notice requesting a weekly breakdown must clearly
state that a $100 penalty may be assessed for failure to provide the information. The penalty
collected is credited to the family and medical benefit insurance account.
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(a) The commissioner may make summaries,
compilations, duplications, or reproductions of any records pertaining to this chapter that
the commissioner considers advisable for the preservation of the information.
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new text begin
(b) Regardless of any law to the contrary, the commissioner may destroy any records
that are no longer necessary for the administration of this chapter. In addition, the
commissioner may destroy any record from which the information has been electronically
captured and stored.
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(a) The commissioner or benefit judge has authority to administer oaths and affirmations,
take depositions, certify to official acts, and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of
individuals and the production of documents and other personal property necessary in
connection with the administration of this chapter.
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(b) Individuals subpoenaed, other than applicants or officers and employees of an
employer that is the subject of the inquiry, are paid witness fees the same as witness fees
in civil actions in district court. The fees need not be paid in advance.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The subpoena is enforceable through the district court in Ramsey County.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Any amount due under this chapter, from an applicant or an
employer, becomes a lien upon all the property, within this state, both real and personal, of
the person liable, from the date of assessment. For the purposes of this section, "date of
assessment" means the date the obligation was due.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The lien is not enforceable against any purchaser, mortgagee, pledgee, holder of a
Uniform Commercial Code security interest, mechanic's lien, or judgment lien creditor,
until a notice of lien has been filed with the county recorder of the county where the property
is situated, or in the case of personal property belonging to a nonresident person in the Office
of the Secretary of State. When the notice of lien is filed with the county recorder, the fee
for filing and indexing is as provided in sections 272.483 and 272.484.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Notices of liens, lien renewals, and lien releases, in a form prescribed by the
commissioner, may be filed with the county recorder or the secretary of state by mail,
personal delivery, or electronic transmission into the computerized filing system of the
secretary of state. The secretary of state must, on any notice filed with that office, transmit
the notice electronically to the appropriate county recorder. The filing officer, whether the
county recorder or the secretary of state, must endorse and index a printout of the notice as
if the notice had been mailed or delivered.
new text end
new text begin
(d) County recorders and the secretary of state must enter information on lien notices,
renewals, and releases into the central database of the secretary of state. For notices filed
electronically with the county recorders, the date and time of receipt of the notice and county
recorder's file number, and for notices filed electronically with the secretary of state, the
secretary of state's recording information, must be entered into the central database before
the close of the working day following the day of the original data entry by the commissioner.
new text end
new text begin
(e) The lien imposed on personal property, even though properly filed, is not enforceable
against a purchaser of tangible personal property purchased at retail or personal property
listed as exempt in sections 550.37, 550.38, and 550.39.
new text end
new text begin
(f) A notice of lien filed has priority over any security interest arising under chapter 336,
article 9, that is perfected prior in time to the lien imposed by this subdivision, but only if:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the perfected security interest secures property not in existence at the time the notice
of lien is filed; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) the property comes into existence after the 45th calendar day following the day the
notice of lien is filed, or after the secured party has actual notice or knowledge of the lien
filing, whichever is earlier.
new text end
new text begin
(g) The lien is enforceable from the time the lien arises and for ten years from the date
of filing the notice of lien. A notice of lien may be renewed before expiration for an additional
ten years.
new text end
new text begin
(h) The lien is enforceable by levy under subdivision 2 or by judgment lien foreclosure
under chapter 550.
new text end
new text begin
(i) The lien may be imposed upon property defined as homestead property in chapter
510 but may be enforced only upon the sale, transfer, or conveyance of the homestead
property.
new text end
new text begin
(j) The commissioner may sell and assign to a third party the commissioner's right of
redemption in specific real property for liens filed under this subdivision. The assignee is
limited to the same rights of redemption as the commissioner, except that in a bankruptcy
proceeding, the assignee does not obtain the commissioner's priority. Any proceeds from
the sale of the right of redemption are credited to the contingent account.
new text end
new text begin
(a) If any amount due under this chapter, from an applicant or an employer,
is not paid when due, the amount may be collected by the commissioner by direct levy upon
all property and rights of property of the person liable for the amount due except property
exempt from execution under section 550.37. For the purposes of this section, "levy" includes
the power of distraint and seizure by any means.
new text end
new text begin
(b) In addition to a direct levy, the commissioner may issue a warrant to the sheriff of
any county who must proceed within 60 calendar days to levy upon the property or rights
to property of the delinquent person within the county, except property exempt under section
550.37. The sheriff must sell that property necessary to satisfy the total amount due, together
with the commissioner's and sheriff's costs. The sales are governed by the law applicable
to sales of like property on execution of a judgment.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Notice and demand for payment of the total amount due must be mailed to the
delinquent person at least ten calendar days before action being taken under paragraphs (a)
and (b).
new text end
new text begin
(d) If the commissioner has reason to believe that collection of the amount due is in
jeopardy, notice and demand for immediate payment may be made. If the total amount due
is not paid, the commissioner may proceed to collect by direct levy or issue a warrant without
regard to the ten calendar day period.
new text end
new text begin
(e) In executing the levy, the commissioner must have all of the powers provided in
chapter 550 or any other law that provides for execution against property in this state. The
sale of property levied upon and the time and manner of redemption is as provided in chapter
550. The seal of the court is not required. The levy may be made whether or not the
commissioner has commenced a legal action for collection.
new text end
new text begin
(f) Where any assessment has been made by the commissioner, the property seized for
collection of the total amount due must not be sold until any determination of liability has
become final. No sale may be made unless a portion of the amount due remains unpaid for
a period of more than 30 calendar days after the determination of liability becomes final.
Seized property may be sold at any time if:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the delinquent person consents in writing to the sale; or
new text end
new text begin
(2) the commissioner determines that the property is perishable or may become greatly
reduced in price or value by keeping, or that the property cannot be kept without great
expense.
new text end
new text begin
(g) Where a levy has been made to collect the amount due and the property seized is
properly included in a formal proceeding commenced under sections 524.3-401 to 524.3-505
and maintained under full supervision of the court, the property may not be sold until the
probate proceedings are completed or until the court orders.
new text end
new text begin
(h) The property seized must be returned if the owner:
new text end
new text begin
(1) gives a surety bond equal to the appraised value of the owner's interest in the property,
as determined by the commissioner; or
new text end
new text begin
(2) deposits with the commissioner security in a form and amount the commissioner
considers necessary to insure payment of the liability.
new text end
new text begin
(i) If a levy or sale would irreparably injure rights in property that the court determines
superior to rights of the state, the court may grant an injunction to prohibit the enforcement
of the levy or to prohibit the sale.
new text end
new text begin
(j) Any person who fails or refuses to surrender without reasonable cause any property
or rights to property subject to levy is personally liable in an amount equal to the value of
the property or rights not so surrendered, but not exceeding the amount due.
new text end
new text begin
(k) If the commissioner has seized the property of any individual, that individual may,
upon giving 48 hours notice to the commissioner and to the court, bring a claim for equitable
relief before the district court for the release of the property upon terms and conditions the
court considers equitable.
new text end
new text begin
(l) Any person in control or possession of property or rights to property upon which a
levy has been made who surrenders the property or rights to property, or who pays the
amount due is discharged from any obligation or liability to the person liable for the amount
due with respect to the property or rights to property.
new text end
new text begin
(m) The notice of any levy may be served personally or by mail.
new text end
new text begin
(n) The commissioner may release the levy upon all or part of the property or rights to
property levied upon if the commissioner determines that the release will facilitate the
collection of the liability, but the release does not prevent any subsequent levy. If the
commissioner determines that property has been wrongfully levied upon, the commissioner
must return:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the specific property levied upon, at any time; or
new text end
new text begin
(2) an amount of money equal to the amount of money levied upon, at any time before
the expiration of nine months from the date of levy.
new text end
new text begin
(o) Regardless of section 52.12, a levy upon a person's funds on deposit in a financial
institution located in this state, has priority over any unexercised right of setoff of the
financial institution to apply the levied funds toward the balance of an outstanding loan or
loans owed by the person to the financial institution. A claim by the financial institution
that it exercised its right to setoff before the levy must be substantiated by evidence of the
date of the setoff, and verified by an affidavit from a corporate officer of the financial
institution. For purposes of determining the priority of any levy under this subdivision, the
levy is treated as if it were an execution under chapter 550.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Upon certification by the commissioner to the commissioner
of management and budget, or to any state agency that disburses its own funds, that a person,
applicant, or employer has a liability under this chapter, and that the state has purchased
personal services, supplies, contract services, or property from that person, the commissioner
of management and budget or the state agency must set off and pay to the commissioner an
amount sufficient to satisfy the unpaid liability from funds appropriated for payment of the
obligation of the state otherwise due the person. No amount may be set off from any funds
exempt under section 550.37 or funds due an individual who receives assistance under
chapter 256.
new text end
new text begin
(b) All funds, whether general or dedicated, are subject to setoff.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Regardless of any law to the contrary, the commissioner has first priority to setoff
from any funds otherwise due from the department to a delinquent person.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Any amount due under this chapter, from an
applicant or employer, may be collected by civil action in the name of the state of Minnesota.
Civil actions brought under this subdivision must be heard as provided under section 16D.14.
In any action, judgment must be entered in default for the relief demanded in the complaint
without proof, together with costs and disbursements, upon the filing of an affidavit of
default.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Any person that is not a resident of this state and any resident person removed from
this state, is considered to appoint the secretary of state as its agent for the acceptance of
process in any civil action. The commissioner must file process with the secretary of state,
together with a payment of a fee of $15 and that service is considered sufficient service and
has the same force and validity as if served personally within this state. Notice of the service
of process, together with a copy of the process, must be sent by certified mail to the person's
last known address. An affidavit of compliance with this subdivision, and a copy of the
notice of service must be appended to the original of the process and filed in the court.
new text end
new text begin
(c) No court filing fees, docketing fees, or release of judgment fees may be assessed
against the state for actions under this subdivision.
new text end
new text begin
No injunction or other legal action to prevent the
determination, assessment, or collection of any amounts due under this chapter, from an
applicant or employer, are allowed.
new text end
new text begin
The Department of Labor and Industry may offer conciliation services to employers and
employees to resolve disputes concerning alleged violations of employment protections
identified in section 268B.09.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Beginning on or before December 1, 2023, the commissioner must annually report
to the Department of Management and Budget and the house of representatives and senate
committee chairs with jurisdiction over this chapter on program administrative expenditures
and revenue collection for the prior fiscal year, including but not limited to:
new text end
new text begin
(1) total revenue raised through premium collection;
new text end
new text begin
(2) the number of self-employed individuals or independent contractors electing coverage
under section 268B.11 and amount of associated revenue;
new text end
new text begin
(3) the number of covered business entities paying premiums under this chapter and
associated revenue;
new text end
new text begin
(4) administrative expenditures including transfers to other state agencies expended in
the administration of the chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(5) summary of contracted services expended in the administration of this chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(6) grant amounts and recipients under section .......;
new text end
new text begin
(7) an accounting of required outreach expenditures;
new text end
new text begin
(8) summary of private plan approvals including the number of employers and employees
covered under private plans; and
new text end
new text begin
(9) adequacy and use of the private plan approval and oversight fee.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Beginning on or before December 1, 2023, the commissioner must annually publish
a publicly available report providing the following information for the previous fiscal year:
new text end
new text begin
(1) total eligible claims;
new text end
new text begin
(2) the number and percentage of claims attributable to each category of benefit;
new text end
new text begin
(3) claimant demographics by age, gender, average weekly wage, occupation, and the
type of leave taken;
new text end
new text begin
(4) the percentage of claims denied and the reasons therefor, including but not limited
to insufficient information and ineligibility and the reason therefor;
new text end
new text begin
(5) average weekly benefit amount paid for all claims and by category of benefit;
new text end
new text begin
(6) changes in the benefits paid compared to previous fiscal years;
new text end
new text begin
(7) processing times for initial claims processing, initial determinations, and final
decisions;
new text end
new text begin
(8) average duration for cases completed; and
new text end
new text begin
(9) the number of cases remaining open at the close of such year.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Each employer must post in a conspicuous place on each of its premises a workplace
notice prepared or approved by the commissioner providing notice of benefits available
under this chapter. The required workplace notice must be in English and each language
other than English which is the primary language of five or more employees or independent
contractors of that workplace, if such notice is available from the department.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Each employer must issue to each employee not more than 30 days from the beginning
date of the employee's employment, or 30 days before premium collection begins, whichever
is later, the following written information provided or approved by the department in the
primary language of the employee:
new text end
new text begin
(1) an explanation of the availability of family and medical leave benefits provided under
this chapter, including rights to reinstatement and continuation of health insurance;
new text end
new text begin
(2) the amount of premium deductions made by the employer under this chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(3) the employer's premium amount and obligations under this chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(4) the name and mailing address of the employer;
new text end
new text begin
(5) the identification number assigned to the employer by the department;
new text end
new text begin
(6) instructions on how to file a claim for family and medical leave benefits;
new text end
new text begin
(7) the mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the department; and
new text end
new text begin
(8) any other information required by the department.
new text end
new text begin
Delivery is made when an employee provides written acknowledgment of receipt of the
information, or signs a statement indicating the employee's refusal to sign such
acknowledgment.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Each employer shall provide to each independent contractor with whom it contracts,
at the time such contract is made or, for existing contracts, within 30 days of the effective
date of this section, the following written information provided or approved by the department
in the self-employed individual's primary language:
new text end
new text begin
(1) the address and telephone number of the department; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) any other information required by the department.
new text end
new text begin
(d) An employer that fails to comply with this subdivision may be issued, for a first
violation, a civil penalty of $50 per employee and per independent contractor with whom
it has contracted, and for each subsequent violation, a civil penalty of $300 per employee
or self-employed individual with whom it has contracted. The employer shall have the
burden of demonstrating compliance with this section.
new text end
new text begin
(e) Employer notice to an employee under this section may be provided in paper or
electronic format. For notice provided in electronic format only, the employer must provide
employee access to an employer-owned computer during an employee's regular working
hours to review and print required notices.
new text end
new text begin
An employer may require leave taken under this
chapter to run concurrently with leave taken for the same purpose under section 181.941
or the Family and Medical Leave Act, United States Code, title 29, sections 2601 to 2654,
as amended.
new text end
new text begin
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to:
new text end
new text begin
(1) allow an employer to compel an employee to exhaust accumulated sick, vacation,
or personal time before or while taking leave under this chapter;
new text end
new text begin
(2) prohibit an employer from providing additional benefits, including but not limited
to covering the portion of earnings not provided under this chapter during periods of leave
covered under this chapter; or
new text end
new text begin
(3) limit the parties to a collective bargaining agreement from bargaining and agreeing
with respect to leave benefits and related procedures and employee protections that meet
or exceed, and do not otherwise conflict with, the minimum standards and requirements in
this chapter.
new text end
new text begin
If the United States Department of Labor or a court of competent jurisdiction determines
that any provision of the family and medical benefit insurance program under this chapter
is not in conformity with, or is inconsistent with, the requirements of federal law, the
provision has no force or effect. If only a portion of the provision, or the application to any
person or circumstances, is determined not in conformity, or determined inconsistent, the
remainder of the provision and the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances are not affected.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Employers with 50 or fewer employees may apply to the department for grants under
this section.
new text end
new text begin
(b) The commissioner may approve a grant of up to $3,000 if the employer hires a
temporary worker to replace an employee on family or medical leave for a period of seven
days or more.
new text end
new text begin
(c) For an employee's family or medical leave, the commissioner may approve a grant
of up to $1,000 as reimbursement for significant additional wage-related costs due to the
employee's leave.
new text end
new text begin
(d) To be eligible for consideration for a grant under this section, the employer must
provide the department written documentation showing the temporary worker hired or
significant wage-related costs incurred are due to an employee's use of leave under this
chapter.
new text end
new text begin
(e) The grants under this section may be funded from the account.
new text end
new text begin
(f) For the purposes of this section, the commissioner shall average the number of
employees reported by an employer over the last four completed calendar quarters to
determine the size of the employer.
new text end
new text begin
(g) An employer who has an approved private plan is not eligible to receive a grant under
this section.
new text end
new text begin
(h) The commissioner may award grants under this section only up to a maximum of
$5,000,000 per calendar year.
new text end
new text begin
The revisor of statutes shall make necessary changes in statutory cross-references to
accommodate the changes made in this act. If necessary, the revisor shall prepare a bill for
introduction in the 2022 legislative session to make other necessary conforming changes
that are beyond the scope of the revisor's authority to make editorial changes under this
section or other law.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
new text begin
(a) Benefits under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B, shall not be applied for or paid
until January 1, 2024, and thereafter.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Sections 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are effective July 1, 2021.
new text end
new text begin
(c) Section 15 is effective July 1, 2022.
new text end
new text begin
(d) Sections 3, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, and 26 are effective January 1, 2023.
new text end
new text begin
(e) Sections 19, 21, 25, and 29 are effective January 1, 2023.
new text end
new text begin
(f) Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 27, and 28 are effective January 1, 2024.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 256J.561, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin
A parent who meets
the criteria under subdivision 2 and who receives benefits under chapter 268B is not required
to participate in employment services.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 256J.95, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
(a) Except for the categories of
family units listed in clauses (1) to (8), all family units who apply for cash benefits and who
meet MFIP eligibility as required in sections 256J.11 to 256J.15 are eligible and must
participate in the diversionary work program. Family units or individuals that are not eligible
for the diversionary work program include:
(1) child only cases;
(2) single-parent family units that include a child under 12 months of age. A parent is
eligible for this exception once in a parent's lifetime;
(3) family units with a minor parent without a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(4) family units with an 18- or 19-year-old caregiver without a high school diploma or
its equivalent who chooses to have an employment plan with an education option;
(5) family units with a caregiver who received DWP benefits within the 12 months prior
to the month the family applied for DWP, except as provided in paragraph (c);
(6) family units with a caregiver who received MFIP within the 12 months prior to the
month the family applied for DWP;
(7) family units with a caregiver who received 60 or more months of TANF assistance;
deleted text begin and
deleted text end
(8) family units with a caregiver who is disqualified from the work participation cash
benefit program, DWP, or MFIP due to frauddeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end
new text begin
(9) single-parent family units where a parent is receiving family and medical leave
benefits under chapter 268B.
new text end
(b) A two-parent family must participate in DWP unless both caregivers meet the criteria
for an exception under paragraph (a), clauses (1) through (5), or the family unit includes a
parent who meets the criteria in paragraph (a), clause (6), (7), or (8).
(c) Once DWP eligibility is determined, the four months run consecutively. If a participant
leaves the program for any reason and reapplies during the four-month period, the county
must redetermine eligibility for DWP.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 256J.95, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
(a) All DWP caregivers, except caregivers
who meet the criteria in paragraph (d), are required to participate in DWP employment
services. Except as specified in paragraphs (b) and (c), employment plans under DWP must,
at a minimum, meet the requirements in section 256J.55, subdivision 1.
(b) A caregiver who is a member of a two-parent family that is required to participate
in DWP who would otherwise be ineligible for DWP under subdivision 3 may be allowed
to develop an employment plan under section 256J.521, subdivision 2, that may contain
alternate activities and reduced hours.
(c) A participant who is a victim of family violence shall be allowed to develop an
employment plan under section 256J.521, subdivision 3. A claim of family violence must
be documented by the applicant or participant by providing a sworn statement which is
supported by collateral documentation in section 256J.545, paragraph (b).
(d) One parent in a two-parent family unit deleted text begin that has a natural born child under 12 months
of agedeleted text end is not required to have an employment plan deleted text begin until the child reaches 12 months of age
unless the family unit has already used the exclusion under section 256J.561, subdivision
3, or the previously allowed child under age one exemption under section 256J.56, paragraph
(a), clause (5).deleted text end new text begin if that parent:
new text end
new text begin
(1) receives family and medical leave benefits under chapter 268B; or
new text end
new text begin
(2) has a natural born child under 12 months of age until the child reaches 12 months
of age unless the family unit has already used the exclusion under section 256J.561,
subdivision 3, or the previously allowed child under age one exemption under section
256J.56, paragraph (a), clause (5).
new text end
(e) The provision in paragraph (d) ends the first full month after the child reaches 12
months of age. This provision is allowable only once in a caregiver's lifetime. In a two-parent
household, only one parent shall be allowed to use this category.
(f) The participant and job counselor must meet in the month after the month the child
reaches 12 months of age to revise the participant's employment plan. The employment plan
for a family unit that has a child under 12 months of age that has already used the exclusion
in section 256J.561 must be tailored to recognize the caregiving needs of the parent.
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 256P.01, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
"Earned income" means cash or in-kind income earned through
the receipt of wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, tips, gratuities, profit from employment
activities, net profit from self-employment activities, payments made by an employer for
regularly accrued vacation or sick leave, severance pay based on accrued leave time, new text begin benefits
paid under chapter 268B, new text end payments from training programs at a rate at or greater than the
state's minimum wage, royalties, honoraria, or other profit from activity that results from
the client's work, service, effort, or labor. The income must be in return for, or as a result
of, legal activity.
new text begin
Sections 1 to 4 are effective July 1, 2024.
new text end
new text begin
(a) $10,828,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for the purposes of Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 268B. This is a onetime appropriation. In fiscal year 2023, $23,250,000
is appropriated from the paid family medical leave account to the commissioner of
employment and economic development for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, chapter
268B. The base for this appropriation is $51,041,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $50,125,000
in fiscal year 2025. Starting in fiscal year 2026, the base for this appropriation is $46,465,000.
new text end
new text begin
(b) In fiscal year 2023, $630,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of employment and economic development for the purpose of outreach,
education, and technical assistance for employees and employers regarding Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 268B. This appropriation is onetime. In fiscal year 2024, $630,000 is
appropriated from the paid family medical leave account to the commissioner of employment
and economic development for the purpose of outreach, education, and technical assistance
for employees and employers regarding Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. Of the amount
appropriated, at least half must be used for grants to community-based groups providing
outreach, education, and technical assistance for employees, employers, and self-employed
individuals regarding Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. Outreach must include efforts to
notify self-employed individuals of their ability to elect coverage under Minnesota Statutes,
section 268B.11, and provide them with technical assistance in doing so.
new text end
new text begin
(c) $528,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of labor and industry for the purposes of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. This appropriation
is onetime. From the paid family medical leave account, $518,000 is appropriated in fiscal
year 2023, $468,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2024, and $618,000 is appropriated in
fiscal year 2025 to the commissioner of labor and industry for the purposes of Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 268B.
new text end
new text begin
(d) $574,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the paid family medical leave
account to the commissioner of human services for information technology system costs
associated with Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. This appropriation is onetime.
new text end
new text begin
(e) $28,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of management and budget for information technology systems upgrades necessary to
comply with Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. This appropriation is onetime. From the
paid family medical leave account, $23,000 is appropriated in fiscal year 2023 for ongoing
maintenance of these systems. The base for this appropriation is $13,000.
new text end
new text begin
(f) $1,930,000 in fiscal year 2023 is appropriated from the general fund to the
commissioner of management and budget for the premiums and notice acknowledgement
required of employers under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. The base for this
appropriation is $3,727,000.
new text end
new text begin
(g) $11,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative
coordinating commission for systems upgrades necessary to comply with Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 268B. This appropriation is onetime.
new text end
new text begin
(h) $20,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the supreme
court for judicial responsibilities associated with Minnesota Statutes, chapter 268B. This is
a onetime appropriation.
new text end
new text begin
(i) $5,600,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the paid family medical leave
account to the court of appeals for judicial responsibilities associated with Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 268B.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective July 1, 2021.
new text end
new text begin
In fiscal year 2023 only, $11,416,000 shall be transferred from the paid family medical
leave account to the general fund.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective July 1, 2021.
new text end