SB 262 – Requires some businesses to increase unpaid family medical leave time for certain veterans and their families.
This bill requires certain private employers and the state to allow their employees to take unpaid time off when federal regulations determine a need exists arising from the employee’s spouse, son or daughter, or parent being on active duty or notified of an impending call or order to active duty in the armed forces (U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force and any reserve component of these branches, including the Connecticut National Guard performing duty under Title 32 of federal law (e.g., certain Homeland Security missions)). Regulations adopted by the U.S. labor secretary determine the situations qualifying for leave.
Under the bill, in such circumstances: (1) private employees may take up to 16 work weeks of unpaid time off during any 24-month period, and (2) state employees may take up to 24 weeks within a two-year period. These amounts are already allowed by law for other reasons (e.g., certain family-related matters, such as births and other health issues).
As under current law, in order to qualify, a private employee must: (1) work for an employer with at least 75 employees, and (2) have been employed by the employer for at least 12 months and worked at least 1,000 hours during that time. State employees must be permanent, which means holding a position in the (1) classified service under a permanent appointment, or (2) unclassified service and serving in the position for more than six months, except for employees in federally funded positions as part of a public service employment, on-the-job training, or work experience program.
