Amendment #958 to H3900

PFML Benefits for Municipal Employees

Ms. Uyterhoeven of Somerville moves to amend the bill by inserting the following new section:

SECTION XX. Chapter 175M of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting, after section 10, the following section: -

Section 10A.

(a) Subject to appropriation, any municipality, district, political subdivision or authority which provides paid family and medical leave to employees through the adoption of this chapter, pursuant to section 10, for fiscal years commencing after July first, two thousand and twenty-three shall receive a paid family and medical leave grant from the commonwealth in fiscal years two thousand and twenty-four, two thousand and twenty-five, and two thousand and twenty-six equal to the cost incurred by said municipality, district, political subdivision or authority during said fiscal years as a result of adopting this chapter.

A municipality, district, political subdivision or authority, shall notify the department of family and medical leave of its intent to pursue the adoption of this chapter. Upon receiving such notification and prior to the required vote to adopt this chapter, the department shall certify that funds are available to provide the paid family and medical leave grant in full for fiscal years two thousand and twenty-four, two thousand and twenty-five, and two thousand and twenty-six. If the department determines that appropriations are insufficient to fully fund the paid family and medical leave grant it shall develop a plan to distribute available funds equitably among the municipalities, districts, political subdivisions or authorities; provided, however, that the department shall notify a municipality, district, political subdivision or authority of the distribution plan prior to its vote to adopt this chapter.

(b) The implementation of this section shall be consistent with the provisions of chapter 150E of the General Laws, including but not limited to the duty to bargain on wages, hours and working conditions, or any agreements entered into in accordance with said chapter 150E of the General Laws.

and further moves to amend the bill by inserting after item 7003-0151 the following item:

7003-XXXX For a reserve to be administered by the department of family and medical leave to fund paid family and medical leave grants pursuant to Section 10A of Chapter 175M of the General Laws; provided, that, if the funds allocated to this reserve are insufficient to fully fund the grant, the department of family and medical shall submit to the house and senate committees on ways and means a request for an additional appropriation fully fund the grant; provided further, that, subject to regulations to be promulgated by the department, funds from this item may also be used to reimburse a municipality, district, political subdivision or authority for all or a portion of the costs associated with providing paid family and medical leave benefits to employees through a private plan that confers comparable rights, protections and benefits provided to employees covered under said chapter 175M; provided further, that, the funds appropriated in this item shall not revert to the General Fund but shall be made available for these purposes through June 30, 2026;.........$30,000,000

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #958 to H3900

PFML Benefits for Municipal Employees