Assembly Bill 1012 aims to expand family and medical leave provisions in Wisconsin by establishing a family and medical leave insurance program and broadening the eligibility criteria for employees seeking leave. The bill allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of family leave for various reasons, including caring for a family member, the birth or adoption of a child, and addressing issues related to domestic abuse or stalking. It lowers the threshold for employers required to provide leave from 50 to a smaller number of employees, thereby increasing access to leave benefits. Additionally, the bill defines "family member" broadly to include various relatives and individuals with close associations to the employee.

The legislation also creates a family and medical leave insurance trust fund, which will provide financial benefits to eligible individuals during their leave. Employees and self-employed individuals will contribute to this fund, with employers of more than 50 employees required to match a portion of the contributions. The bill outlines the benefits structure, stipulating that individuals can receive up to 12 weeks of insurance benefits based on their earnings, while also ensuring job protection and health insurance coverage for employees returning from leave. Furthermore, local governments are permitted to enact more generous leave ordinances than those established by state law.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 103.10(1)(a)1, 103.10, 103.10(1)(a)2, 103.10(1)(b), 103.10(1)(c)