On 2/16, the Vermont House Committee on General and Housing passed H.66, legislation that would create the most generous paid family and medical leave program in the United States. It has been referred to the House Ways & Means Committee.
The bill provides employees with up to 12 weeks for their own health, maternity/parental, family care, safe, and bereavement (bereavement would be only two weeks).
- Employees that have been employed with the same employer for a period of six months, during which time they averaged 20 hours a week, would be eligible.
- Provides a wage replacement of 100% up to the state’s average weekly wage of $1,135 per week. Changes FMLA leave in Vermont to cover any person employing one or more individuals in Vermont.
- Administration of the program would require a doubling of the Treasurer’s Office and $100M to get the program up and running.
- All paid for with a 0.55% payroll tax (set annually by Treasurer’s Office) split between the employer and the employee.
