Providing for family medical leave for grandparents and providing penalties and remedies

This bill provides that an employee who is a grandparent shall have the same rights provided to an employee under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (the Act). The bill provides that an employer of such an employee shall be subject to the same requirements as an employer under the Act. “Employee” and “employer” mean the same as defined in the Act. The bill provides for modification of such rights. The modifications include that an employee is entitled to leave for the birth of a grandchild and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth; to care for the employee’s grandchild who has a serious health condition; for any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that the employee’s grandchild is a covered military member on covered active duty; and to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness if the eligible employee is the service member’s grandparent. The bill is enforced by the director of the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing. The bill is enforced pursuant to Code chapter 91A, which provides for civil remedies and penalties. The bill requires the director to adopt administrative rules to administer the bill, which may establish additional procedures, requirements, and definitions necessary to implement the bill.