Family Medical Leave Insurance Duration Extensions

Second Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 26-127 LLS NO. 26-0125.01 Renee Leone x2695 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Bridges, HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Zokaie, Senate Committees House Committees Business, Labor, & Technology A BILL FOR AN ACT CONCERNING CHANGES TO PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE DURATION EXTENSIONS.

Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.) With regard to the family and medical leave insurance (FAMLI) program, the bill: ! Defines a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for the duration extension that applies to a covered individual who has a child receiving care in a NICU; and ! Extends the duration of paid FAMLI leave for claims Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.

Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law. Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.

arising on or after January 1, 2027, up to an additional 2 weeks, following the death of a family member for whom a covered individual cared for while using such leave.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-13.3-503, add (14.5) as follows:

8-13.3-503. Definitions.

As used in this part 5, unless the context otherwise requires:

(14.5) (a) "NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT" MEANS AN INPATIENT FACILITY THAT IS EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS, SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE FOR CRITICALLY ILL OR MEDICALLY FRAGILE INFANTS.

(b) "NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT" INCLUDES AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT INTO WHICH AN INFANT IS TRANSFERRED DIRECTLY AFTER BIRTH OR, IF THE TRANSFER IS DUE TO AN ESCALATION OF THE INFANT'S MEDICAL NEEDS, FROM ANOTHER NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-13.3-505, amend (1) as follows:

8-13.3-505. Duration.

The maximum number of weeks for which a covered individual may take paid family and medical leave and for which family and medical leave insurance benefits are payable for any purpose, or purposes in aggregate, under section 8-13.3-504 (2) in an application year is twelve weeks; except that benefits are payable up to:

(a) An additional four weeks to a covered individual with a serious health condition related to pregnancy complications or childbirth complications; and

(b) For claims arising on or after January 1, 2026, an additional twelve weeks to a covered individual who has a child receiving inpatient care in a neonatal intensive care unit for the duration that the child is receiving care in the neonatal intensive care unit; AND

(c) FOR CLAIMS ARISING ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2027, AN ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS TO A COVERED INDIVIDUAL FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF A FAMILY MEMBER FOR WHOM THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL USED PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE TO PROVIDE CARE, PURSUANT TO

SECTION 8-13.3-504 (2), WHICH ADDITIONAL LEAVE MUST BE USED WITHIN ONE YEAR FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF THE FAMILY MEMBER AND WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE END OF THE APPLICATION YEAR.

SECTION 3.

Safety clause. The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.