House adopts committee amendment to H.856 to align medical-leave language with federal FMLA

The House approved a committee amendment to H.856 that updates Vermont’s Parental and Family Leave Act language to align with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Member for Morgan, presenting the Committee on General and Housing's recommendation, summarized the amendment, noting it replaces the term "physician" with "health care provider" to reflect multiple provider types, introduces a new definition of "serious health condition," and clarifies that leave applies following serious injury or during inpatient stays at hospice or residential medical care or rehabilitation facilities and for substance use disorder care. The presenter said the changes "make Vermont's law consistent with the serious health condition that is found in the federal family and medical leave act." The member also stated, "This would become effective on July 1, 2024." The committee's recommendation to strike and insert the amendment was approved on the floor and the House ordered third reading.

The transcript indicates the committee vote coming out was recorded as 11-01; the floor adopted the committee amendment by voice vote and ordered third reading. No roll-call of individual member votes on the floor amendment is recorded in the transcript provided.