Committee hears walk‑through of technical fixes to Parental and Family Leave Act to include flight crews and teachers

The Committee on General & Housing received a walk‑through of a bill that would make technical changes to Vermont’s Parental and Family Leave Act (PFLA) so workers covered under certain federal FMLA exceptions — specifically airline flight crews and some teachers — would be eligible for state benefits if they meet federal thresholds.

Legislative counsel explained the change would add a reference to portions of the Code of Federal Regulations (29 C.F.R.) so that workers who meet the federal definitions (for example, where federal law provides special service‑hour calculations for flight crews or teachers) would be treated as eligible under the state statute. Sophie Zatney noted the senate earlier added airline flight crew language and the current change would add 29 C.F.R. cross‑references for teachers.

Committee members raised policy and drafting concerns: whether to add specific job titles (which some members called a slippery slope) versus widening the statutory definition of eligible employees, how to treat auxiliary school staff (counselors, cafeteria workers, bus drivers), and whether the definition change would unintentionally capture groups the legislature did not intend. Sophie Zatney suggested several drafting options, including referencing the federal FMLA exceptions or enumerating the groups; members expressed interest in taking testimony from affected workers and agencies before taking substantive action.

Next steps: The committee decided to monitor related labor bills and consider combined testimony on how the PFLA is functioning in practice; if the committee takes up the bill, staff will prepare drafting options and solicit testimony from affected groups.