2018 -- H 7169

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LC003565

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- PARENTAL AND FAMILY

MEDICAL LEAVE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Perez, McKiernan, Hull, Almeida, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: January 12, 2018

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 28-48 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Parental and

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Family Medical Leave Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     28-48-13. Pregnancy leave.

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     (a) The pregnancy leave provisions of this chapter shall not be subject to any of the

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qualifying conditions contained herein, except the maximum thirteen (13) weeks of unpaid leave.

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     (b) Part-time employees, irrespective of the amount of hours they work or the number of

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employees employed by their employer, shall be eligible for pregnancy leave benefits granted by

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this chapter.

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     (c) No employer may discipline and/or terminate any employee who has exercised their

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pregnancy leave benefits granted by this chapter.

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     (d) No employer may discipline and/or terminate a pregnant employee due to their use of

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sick leave during their pregnancy. Medical evidence may be requested by the employer to justify

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the absence and identifying the probable adverse effect of continued working would have on the

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pregnant worker and/or their unborn child.

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     (e) Pregnant workers who work in the medical field, shall be allowed unpaid sick leave if

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they produce a doctor's note which verifies that there is illness or medical condition present in the

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workplace that poses a medical risk to the pregnant worker or their unborn child.

 

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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 -- PARENTAL AND FAMILY

MEDICAL LEAVE

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     This act would grant unpaid pregnancy leave to part-time workers, would clarify their

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access to unpaid sick leave during their pregnancy, and would provide additional protections for

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pregnant workers who work in the medical field.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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