Warning to all New Jersey employers: The New Jersey Senate Labor Committee passed a bill proposing to expand the Temporary Disability Insurance Law to provide employees with up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a newborn, newly adopted child, or serious health condition of a family member. The proposed definition of “family member” would include child, spouse, domestic partner or parent of a covered individual. Note that this bill does not cover leave for an employee′s own serious health condition.

To fund the paid leave program, employee contributions, equal to .1 percent of wages, would be deducted by the employer and contributed to the State Disability Benefits Fund.

IMPORTANT: Although employers with fewer than 50 employees are exempt from the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and NJ′s Family Leave Act (NJFLA), which are unpaid leave laws, this bill does not provide such an exemption. In other words, all employers are covered.

Governor Jon S. Corzine reportedly has stated: ″Conceptually, I′m in favor of paid family leave, but I don′t think this is the priority that we ought to be focusing on. We ought to bring conclusion to the property tax debate.″

We′ll be watching for further developments. Check back with us regularly for updates.

Bill 2249