Labor & Employment (Paid Leave)

Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" does not include an employee who is engaged in the operation of a vessel that is documented by the United States under a specified federal law. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a withholding tax credit for employers that grant all of their employees the option of taking a paid leave of absence for the purpose of serving as an organ donor or bone marrow donor also applies to public employers. Effective immediately.

Creates the Menstrual Health Workplace Equity Act. Provides that an employee who experiences a menstrual health condition may use up to 40 hours of paid leave per year that the employee is entitled to under the Paid Leave for All Workers Act for menstrual health reasons. Provides that, if the paid leave the employee is entitled to is insufficient to cover the employee's needs, the employee may request an additional 40 hours of paid menstrual leave per year or request a hybrid work option. Sets forth provisions concerning employer responsibilities and enforcement by the Department of Labor. Effective immediately.

Amends the Educator Licensure Article of the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to allow an individual who has received a short-term approval license under the Illinois Administrative Code to extend the validity of the short-term approval license beyond the expiration date if the individual has taken leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. Requires the State Board of Education to allow an extension beyond the expiration date equal to or greater than the number of days the individual took for leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

Creates the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program Act. Creates the Division of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Department of Labor. Requires the Division to establish and administer a paid family and medical leave insurance program that provides benefits to employees. Provides that the program shall be administered by the Deputy Director of the Division. Sets forth eligibility requirements for benefits under the Act. Provides that a self-employed individual may elect to be covered under the Act. Contains provisions concerning disqualification from benefits; compensation for leave; the amount and duration of benefits; payments for benefits under the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program Fund; employer equivalent plans; annual reports by the Department; hearings; penalties; notice; the coordination of leave provided under the Act with leave allowed under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, a collective bargaining agreement, or any local county or municipal ordinance; rulemaking; and other matters. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program Fund. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts certain documents collected by the Division of Paid Family and Medical Leave from the Act's disclosure requirements. Effective immediately.

Creates the Veterans Day Paid Leave Act. Requires each employer, subject to certain exceptions, to provide each employee who is a veteran with a paid day off on Veterans Day if the employee would otherwise be required to work on that day. Provides that the employee must provide notice to the employer that he or she intends to take time off on Veterans Day and must provide the employer with documentation verifying that he or she is a veteran. Contains provisions concerning circumstances under which an employer may deny such a time off request. Provides that, if the employer denies the time off request, the employer must make a good faith effort to provide the employee with a substitute day on which the employee may receive paid time off. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit in an amount equal to 100% of the wages paid by the taxpayer to a veteran as a result of the paid day off required under the Veterans Day Paid Leave Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county shall not require a school district organized under the School Code or a park district organized under the Park District Code to provide paid leave to the employees of the school district or park district. Limits home rule powers.

Creates the Firefighter Paid Family Leave Act. Provides that a firefighter shall receive 6 weeks of paid family leave that may be used: (1) for the birth of a child in order to care for the child; (2) to care for a newly adopted child under 18 years of age, a newly placed foster child under 18 years of age, or a newly adopted or placed foster child older than 18 years of age if the child is incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability; and (3) to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Provides that an employer shall compensate a firefighter granted leave under the Act at the firefighter's regular rate of pay, paid at the same interval the firefighter was paid while working, for those regular work hours during which the firefighter is absent from work. Sets forth provisions concerning employment protection and maintenance of benefits; prohibited acts, limitations of the Act; waiver of leave under the Act; and collective bargaining agreements. Limits home rule. Provides that the Department of Labor may adopt any rules necessary to implement the Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county or a municipality shall not require a school district organized under the School Code or a park district organized under the Park District Code to provide paid leave to the employees of the school district or park district. Limits home rule powers. Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" does not include: (1) an employee engaged in the transportation of goods through this State; or (2) an employee who is free to decide what time the employee performs duties for an employer. Makes changes to provisions concerning the provision of paid leave; the responsibilities of the Department of Labor; and enforcement and penalties.

Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of "employee" does not include a part-time employee as defined in the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.