The proposed bill amends Chapter 149 of the General Laws to establish a new section, 52F, which provides employees with the right to take up to 10 business days of paid bereavement leave per calendar year following the death of a family member. The bill defines key terms such as "bereavement leave," "family member," and "employee," and outlines the conditions under which this leave can be taken, including the ability to take leave consecutively or intermittently. It specifies that leave must be taken within 30 days of the death, except for the death of a child, where leave can be taken within 12 months. Employers are required to continue paying employees at their regular rate during this leave and ensure that employment benefits accrue.

Additionally, the bill allows employers to request reasonable documentation of the family member's death and mandates that employers with fewer than 25 employees are exempt from these provisions. Employers must also inform employees of their rights under this new section in writing. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.