This bill amends New Jersey law to expand the definition of "family leave" to include leave taken due to the death of a child or the miscarriage or stillbirth of a child, specifically for the employee or a gestational carrier. The amendments to Section 3 of P.L.1989, c.261 (C.34:11B-3) clarify that family leave encompasses time taken to grieve these specific circumstances. Additionally, the bill modifies the certification requirements for family leave, stating that in cases of death, miscarriage, or stillbirth, the certification need only indicate the date of the event. The duration of family leave remains at 12 weeks within a 24-month period, allowing for intermittent leave under specified conditions.

Furthermore, the bill allows employees to take family temporary disability leave in the event of the loss of a child due to miscarriage or stillbirth, extending this benefit to biological parents and those with a valid gestational carrier agreement. It clarifies the definition of "family temporary disability leave" to include these new provisions and makes technical adjustments to existing definitions within the Temporary Disability Benefits Law. Notably, it deletes references to the "Division of Unemployment and Temporary Disability" and replaces it with the "Division of Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development." The bill also introduces new language regarding leave related to communicable diseases during a state of emergency, ensuring employees can care for themselves or family members in such situations. Overall, the bill aims to provide greater support for employees facing family-related hardships.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 34:11B-3, 34:11B-4, 43:21-27