The bill proposes amendments to the General Laws in Chapter 28-39 entitled "Temporary Disability Insurance — General Provisions," including clarifications in the language and definitions used across chapters 39 through 41. It introduces specific provisions for calculating the base period for members of the United States military service, the Rhode Island National Guard, or a United States military reserve force who served in a declared combat operation. The bill also revises the definitions related to temporary disability insurance, updates the language regarding taxes, sets the taxable wage base, determines the employee contribution rate, revises the weekly benefit rate, adjusts the dependents’ allowances, and details benefits for partial unemployment due to sickness.

Additionally, the bill amends Chapter 28-41 to establish a temporary caregiver insurance program, expanding the definition of family members to include siblings, grandchildren, and care recipients. It outlines eligibility, conditions for receiving benefits, notice requirements, and prohibits concurrent claims for temporary caregiver and disability benefits. The maximum duration of temporary caregiver benefits is increased from four weeks in 2014 to twelve weeks beginning January 1, 2024, and the bill ensures job protection and maintenance of health benefits during leave. It aligns temporary caregiver benefits with FMLA and the Rhode Island parental and family medical leave act, with an effective date of January 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
5781: 28-39-2, 28-40-1, 28-41-5