New Law Expands Paid Family Leave In CA

California’s Family Temporary Disability Insurance program will expand in 2014 under a bill signed into law Sept. 24. The program, known as Paid Family Leave, currently provides up to six weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers taking time off to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, or domestic partner or to bond with a minor child within one year of birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption. The expansion will allow workers caring for a seriously ill grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or parent-in-law access to the benefits. Employers have until July 1, 2014 to make policy changes related to the new law.