HARTFORD, CT – The House on Thursday voted in favor of Senate Bill 222, which will expand the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave law. The legislation is now headed to the governor’s desk for his signature.
The bill includes provisions that will require employers to submit reports to the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (PFMLI) Authority, and will increase the authority’s ability to penalize fraudulent filings in the program.
The bill also includes a provision that to allow federally recognized tribes to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the governor so that employees of a tribe-owned business could gain access to the PFMLI fund.
The bill also makes eligible for the program victims of sexual assault or abuse.
The bill was passed by the Senate last week. On Thursday, the House passed it on a 108-41 vote with two absent or not voting.
Democrats say that the program is important for hourly workers who may have to deal with family emergencies or sick loved ones, but cannot afford to miss a week of pay.
Some of the concerns raised by Republicans in the lower chamber mirrored those in the Senate.
Rep. Steve Weir, R-Hebron, said that the program itself is already too onerous on workers, and that it shouldn’t be expanded.
“I would much rather have control over my own destiny, my own leave. I’d rather negotiate that with my employer,” he said.
His concerns were shared by some colleagues in the chamber.
Rep. Tim Ackert, R-Coventry, proposed an amendment to the bill that would have altered some of the language in the provision pertaining to tribal employees.
Under the amendment, sovereign tribes would be told to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the governor that matches the current PFMLI plan under which the state’s other employees already function.
“This is good policy,” Ackert said. He added later that no other employees in the state are able to negotiate a different rate for themselves.
Rep. Derell Wilson, D-Norwich, said that not allowing the tribes to negotiate their own terms in their memorandum of understanding with the governor would be undermining their sovereignty and asked his colleagues to oppose the amendment.
“We want to allow for our tribes to comply with the program, and have that negotiation in good faith with both the Authority and the governor to get to that place of contributions and other aspects of the agreement,” he said.
The amendment was rejected 51-98 with two absent or not voting.
The bill now heads to Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk for his consideration.
