2015 -- H 5675

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LC001821

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - CAREGIVER TEMPORARY

DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS

     

     Introduced By: Representative Michael J. Marcello

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 28-41-34 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-41 entitled

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"Temporary Disability Insurance - Benefits" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-41-34. Temporary caregiver insurance. -- The purpose of this chapter is to

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establish, within the state temporary disability insurance program, a temporary caregiver

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insurance program to provide wage replacement benefits in accordance with the provisions of this

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chapter, to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, domestic

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partner, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, sibling or to bond with a new child.

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      Definitions as used in this chapter:

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      (1) "Child" means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or

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stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or a son or daughter of an

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employee who stands in loco parentis to that child.

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      (2) "Newborn child" means a child under one year of age.

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      (3) "Adopted child" means a child adopted by, or placed for adoption with, the

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employee.

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      (4) "Bonding or bond" means to develop a psychological and emotional attachment

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between a child and his or her parent(s) or persons who stand in loco parentis. This shall involve

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being in one another's physical presence.

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      (5) "Parent" means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a stepparent, a legal guardian,

 

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or other person who stands in loco parentis to the employee or the employee's spouse or domestic

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partner when he/she was a child.

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      (6) "Domestic partner" means a party to a civil union as defined by chapter 15-3.1.

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      (7) "Spouse" means a party in a common law marriage, a party in a marriage conducted

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and recognized by another state or country, or in a marriage as defined by chapter 15-3.

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      (8) "Grandparent" means a parent of the employee's parent.

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      (9) "Parent-in-law" means the parent of the employee's spouse or domestic partner.

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      (10) "Employee" means any person who is or has been employed by an employer subject

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to chapters 39 through 41 of this title and in employment subject to those chapters.

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      (11) "Serious health condition" means any illness, injury, impairment, or physical or

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mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, residential health care facility,

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or continued treatment or continuing supervision by a licensed health care provider.

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      (12) "Department" means the department of labor and training.

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      (13) "Persons who stand in loco parentis" means those with day-to-day responsibilities to

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care for and financially support a child or, in the case of an employee, who had such

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responsibility for the employee when the employee was a child. A biological or legal relationship

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shall not be required.

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     (14) "Sibling" means the brother or sister of a person in need of temporary caregiver

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services, when there is no other person covered by this section, who is willing and available to

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furnish the needed services.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - CAREGIVER TEMPORARY

DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS

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     This act would add "siblings" to the class of workers who can receive temporary

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disability benefits when providing caregiver services to their brother or sister under this act. The

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sibling is eligible to receive TDI benefits when no other covered family member is available and

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willing to provide the needed services.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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