FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 18, 2024

SEN. OSTEN WELCOMES POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT TO 10,000 TRIBAL EMPLOYEES

NORWICH – A bill that would make Connecticut’s highly successful Paid Family and Medical Leave Act available to approximately 10,000 employees of the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nations passed the state Senate today and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate Bill 222, “AN ACT CONCERNING CHANGES TO THE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE STATUTES,” makes several changes to Connecticut’s PFML law, which has been in effect since January 1, 2022, including:

· requires employers to register and submit reports to the PFML Authority

· broadens the authority’s powers regarding attempted fraud and recovering benefit overpayments

· allows rape victims to receive PFMLI benefits concurrently with benefits from the state’s Victim Compensation Program

· and allows the governor to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Connecticut’s federally recognized tribes to allow employees of those tribal businesses to participate in the PFML program.

“This is a very important change to our Paid Family and Medical Leave Program. Now, more than 10,000 new workers can have access for the first time to PFML who otherwise wouldn’t,” Sen. Osten said. “It’s a substantial benefit, as more than 100,000 Connecticut residents have already found out – about one out of every 15 people working in this state.”

The bill was supported by the two federally recognized tribal nations at its public hearing on February 27.

According to the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority, as of late February 2024, the new state program has provided income-replacement benefits to more than 100,000 Connecticut workers and paid out $638 million in benefits. Claims have come from all 169 Connecticut cities and towns and have been used to deal with a person’s own serious health condition, pregnancy/childbirth, or to care for a family member experiencing a serious health condition.

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