OK
Oklahoma Senate Bill SB277

Oklahoma 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB277 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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5353 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
5454
5555 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
5656
5757 SENATE BILL 277 By: Dossett
5858
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6363 AS INTRODUCED
6464
6565 An Act relating to paid leave; creating the Oklahoma
6666 State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act;
6767 providing short title; defining terms; providing for
6868 eligibility for benefits; specifying qualifications;
6969 providing for duration of benefits; stating maximum
7070 weeks under certain conditions; providing for amount
7171 of benefits to be calculated; authorizing the
7272 Department of Labor to determin e amount; stating
7373 manner of contributions; authorizing the Department
7474 to establish assessment for contributions; providing
7575 for intermittent or reduced leave schedule; requiring
7676 covered individuals to be protected during use of
7777 benefits; providing for penal ties; requiring covered
7878 individuals to be protected from retaliatory actions
7979 for use of benefits; allowing employers to coordinate
8080 benefits under this act; prohibiting employers from
8181 not maintaining current obligations to employees
8282 under this act; requirin g employers to provide notice
8383 to employees; specifying contents of notice; all owing
8484 for appeals; requiring Department to make certain
8585 determinations during certain time frame; allowing
8686 for disqualification of benefits under certain
8787 conditions; providing se lf-employed persons the
8888 option to participate in program; specifying manner
8989 of option for self-employed persons; establishing
9090 family and medical leave insurance program; requiring
9191 Department to establish and administer program;
9292 authorizing Department to re quire and maintain
9393 certain information under certain circumstances;
9494 requiring the Department to establish reasonable
9595 procedures and forms for filing claims; specifying
9696 necessary contents for filing; allowing health care
9797 providers to submit certain informat ion; providing
9898 for income tax considerations on benefits; requiring
9999 the Department to submit report to Legislature;
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151151 specifying contents of report; requiring Department
152152 to provide educational material regarding benefits;
153153 providing for enforcement of this ac t; establishing
154154 procedure to process claims; allowing for certain
155155 action to be taken against violators of this act
156156 within certain time frame; authorizing interagency
157157 coordination; providing for codification; and
158158 providing an effective date .
159159
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163163 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
164164 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
165165 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950 of Title 40, unless there is
166166 created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
167167 This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Oklahoma State
168168 Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act ”.
169169 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
170170 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.1 of Title 40, unless there
171171 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
172172 As used in this act:
173173 1. “Alternative base period ” means the most recent four (4)
174174 completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of
175175 the individual’s application year and any weeks in w hich wages were
176176 paid to the individual in the incomplete calendar quarter in w hich
177177 the individual filed a claim for benefits;
178178 2. “Application year” means the twelve-month period beginning
179179 on the first day of the calendar week in which a covered individual
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231231 files an application for family and medical leave insurance
232232 benefits;
233233 3. “Average weekly wage” means one-thirteenth (1/13) of the
234234 wages paid during the quarter of the covered individual ’s base
235235 period or alternative base period in which the total wages we re
236236 highest;
237237 4. “Base period” means the first four (4) of the last five (5)
238238 completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of
239239 an individual’s application year; provided, that if the first
240240 quarter of the last five (5) completed calendar qua rters was
241241 included in the base period applicable to any individual ’s previous
242242 application year, the individual ’s base period shall be the last
243243 four (4) completed calendar quarters ;
244244 5. “Child” means, regardless of age, a biological, adopted or
245245 foster child, stepchild or legal ward , a child of a domestic
246246 partner, a child to whom the covered individual stands in loc o
247247 parentis, or a person to whom the covered individual stood in loco
248248 parentis when the person was a minor;
249249 6. “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Labor;
250250 7. “Committed relationship” means a relationship in which the
251251 covered individual and the domestic partner of the cover ed
252252 individual share responsibility for a significant measure of each
253253 other’s common welfare. This includes, but is not limi ted to, any
254254 relationship between individuals of the same or different sex that
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306306 is granted legal recognition by the state, political subdivision, or
307307 by the District of Columbia as a marriage or analogous relationship
308308 including, but not limited to, a civil u nion;
309309 8. “Covered individual” means any person who:
310310 a. meets one of the following requirements :
311311 (1) earned an amount determined each year by the
312312 Department of Labor from work in the state during
313313 the person’s base period or alternative base
314314 period prior to submitting an application, or
315315 (2) is self-employed, elects coverage, and meet s the
316316 requirements of Section 1 4 of this act,
317317 b. meets the administrative requirements provided in this
318318 act, and
319319 c. submits an application .
320320 Covered individual shall include forme r employees who have been
321321 separated from employment for no more than twenty -six (26) weeks at
322322 the start of the individual’s paid family and medical leave and who
323323 satisfy the requirements of this paragraph;
324324 9. “Department” means the Department of Labor;
325325 10. “Domestic partner” means an adult in a committed
326326 relationship with another adult;
327327 11. “Employee” means any person permitted to work by an
328328 employer;
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380380 12. “Employer” means every individual, partnership, firm,
381381 association, corporation , the legal representation of a deceased
382382 individual, or receiver, trustee, or successor of an individual,
383383 firm, partnership, association, or corporation, employing any person
384384 in this state;
385385 13. “Family and medical leave insurance benefits ” means the
386386 benefits provided in this act;
387387 14. “Family member” means:
388388 a. a child,
389389 b. a biological, adoptive, or fos ter parent, stepparent,
390390 or legal guardian of a covered individual or a covered
391391 individual’s spouse or domestic partner, or a person
392392 who stood in loco parentis when the covered in dividual
393393 or the covered individual ’s spouse or domestic partner
394394 was a minor child,
395395 c. a person to whom the covered individual is legally
396396 married under the laws of any state or a domestic
397397 partner of a covered individual,
398398 d. a grandparent, grandchild, or sib ling, whether a
399399 biological, foster, adoptive, or step relationship, of
400400 any covered individual or the covered individual ’s
401401 spouse or domestic partner, or
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453453 e. any other individual related by blood or whose close
454454 association with the covered individual is the
455455 equivalent of a family relationship;
456456 15. “Health care provider ” means any person or other entity who
457457 is licensed pursuant to the provisions of Title 59 or Title 63 of
458458 the Oklahoma Statutes, or pursuant to the laws of another state, to
459459 render health care s ervices in the practice of a profession or in
460460 the ordinary course of business;
461461 16. “Interference” means any action that may have the effect of
462462 preventing or discouraging an employee from exercising any right
463463 guaranteed under this act including, but not li mited to:
464464 a. failing to comply with the requirements of Section 9
465465 of this act,
466466 b. failing to provide an employee with complete and
467467 accurate information related to an application for
468468 family and medical leave insurance benefits as may be
469469 required from an emp loyer pursuant to Section 15 of
470470 this act,
471471 c. failing to accurately and timely complete and return
472472 an application for family and medical leave insurance
473473 benefits as may be required from an employer pursuant
474474 to Section 15 of this act, and
475475 d. providing the Department with inaccurate or incomplete
476476 information about an employee ’s wages or employment as
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528528 it relates to the employee ’s eligibility for family
529529 and medical leave insurance benefits;
530530 17. “Paid family and medical leave ” means leave taken from
531531 employment, self-employment, or availability for employment in
532532 connection with family and medical leave insurance benefits pursuant
533533 to this act;
534534 18. “Qualifying exigency leave ” means leave based on a need
535535 arising out of a covered individual ’s family member’s active duty
536536 service or notice of an impending call or order to active duty in
537537 the Armed Forces including, but not limited to:
538538 a. providing for the care or other needs of the military
539539 member’s child or other family member,
540540 b. making financial or legal arrangements for the
541541 military member,
542542 c. attending counseling, military events, or ceremoni es,
543543 d. spending time with the military member during a rest
544544 and recuperation leave or following return from
545545 deployment,
546546 e. making arrangements following the death of a military
547547 member,
548548 f. arranging for alternative care for a family member of
549549 the military member when the family member is
550550 incapable of self-care and the active duty or call to
551551 active duty status of the military member necessitates
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603603 a change in the existing care arrange ment of the
604604 family member,
605605 g. providing care for a family member of the milita ry
606606 member of an urgent, immediate need basis, but not on
607607 a routine, regular, or everyday basis, when the family
608608 member is incapable of self -care and the need to
609609 provide such care arises from the active duty or call
610610 to active duty status of the military member,
611611 h. admitting to or transferring to a care facility a
612612 family member of the military member when admittance
613613 or transfer is necessitated by the active duty or call
614614 to active duty status of the military member, or
615615 i. attending meetings with staff at a car e facility, such
616616 as meetings with hospice or social service providers
617617 for a family member of the military member, when such
618618 meetings are necessary due to circumstances arising
619619 from the active duty or call to active duty status of
620620 the military member but not for routine or regular
621621 meetings;
622622 19. “Retaliatory personnel action ” means denial of or
623623 interference with any right guaranteed under this act including, but
624624 not limited to, any threat, discharge, suspension, demotion,
625625 reduction of hours or pay, other adv erse action against an employee,
626626 or reporting or threatening to report an employee ’s suspected
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678678 citizenship or immigration status or the suspected citizenship or
679679 immigration status of a family member of the employee to a federal,
680680 state, or local law enforcement agency. Retaliatory personnel
681681 action shall also include interference with or punishment for
682682 participating in or assisting an investigation, complaint,
683683 proceeding, or hearin g under this act;
684684 20. “Safe leave” means any leave taken because the covered
685685 individual or the covered individual ’s family member is the victim
686686 of an act defined in Section 60.1 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma
687687 Statutes. Safe leave under this act applies if t he covered
688688 individual is using leave to protect the covered individual or the
689689 covered individual’s family member by:
690690 a. seeking a protective order pursuant to Section 60.2 of
691691 Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes,
692692 b. seeking medical care, mental health counsel ing, or
693693 both for the covered individual or the covered
694694 individual’s family member to address physical or
695695 psychological injuries resulting from any act defined
696696 in Section 60.1 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes,
697697 c. making the covered individual ’s or the covered
698698 individual’s family members home secure from the
699699 perpetrator of any act defined in Section 60.1 of
700700 Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes,
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752752 d. seeking legal assistance to address issues arising
753753 from any act defined in Section 60.1 of Title 22 of
754754 the Oklahoma Statutes or attending and preparing for
755755 court-related proceedings arising from such act or
756756 crime,
757757 e. seeking services from a victim services organization,
758758 or
759759 f. taking other steps necessary to protect or restore the
760760 covered individual’s or the covered individual’s
761761 family member’s physical, mental, emotional, and
762762 economic well-being while recovering from an act
763763 defined in Section 60.1 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma
764764 Statutes; and
765765 21. “Serious health condition ” means the same as defined in
766766 Section 101(11) of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
767767 SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
768768 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.2 of Title 40, unless there
769769 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
770770 On the effective date of this act, a covered individual shall
771771 have the right to take paid family and medical leave and to receive
772772 family and medical leave insurance benefits pursuant to this act if
773773 the individual:
774774 1. Meets the definition of a covered individual as defined in
775775 paragraph 8 of Section 2 of this act; or
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827827 2. Meets one of the foll owing requirements:
828828 a. is caring for a new child because of birth, adoption,
829829 or placement through foster care within twelve (12)
830830 months of the anticipated bir th, adoption, or
831831 placement of that child, or has a need to be absent
832832 from work before an actual placement of the child in
833833 order for the placement for adoption or foster care to
834834 proceed,
835835 b. is caring for a family member with a serious health
836836 condition,
837837 c. has a need for leave due to a serious health condition
838838 including, but not limited to, pregnancy or pregnancy
839839 loss,
840840 d. because of any qualifying exigency leave as defined in
841841 paragraph 18 of Section 2 of this act,
842842 e. has a need for safe leave as defined in paragraph 20
843843 of Section 2 of this act, or
844844 f. any reason as set forth in the Family and Medical
845845 Leave Act of 1993.
846846 SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
847847 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.3 of Title 40, unless there
848848 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
849849 A. 1. The number of weeks for which a covered individual may
850850 take paid family and medical leave under subparagraph c of paragraph
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902902 2 of Section 3 of this act and for which family and medical leave
903903 insurance benefits are payable under subparagraph c of paragraph 2
904904 of Section 3 of this act in an application year shall be no less
905905 than twelve (12) weeks.
906906 2. The number of weeks for which a covered individual may take
907907 paid family and medical leave under subparagraphs a, b , d, e, or f
908908 of paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act and for which family and
909909 medical leave insurance benefits are pa yable under subparagraphs a,
910910 b, d, e, or f of paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act in an
911911 application year shall not exceed twelve (12) week s.
912912 3. The number of weeks for which a covered individual may take
913913 paid family and medical leave under paragraphs 1 and 2 of this
914914 subsection in aggregate shall not exceed sixteen (16) weeks in an
915915 application year.
916916 B. The first payment of benefits shall be made to an individual
917917 within thirty (30) days after the claim is filed, or wi thin thirty
918918 (30) days after the first day of the approved claim, whichever is
919919 later, and subsequent payments shall be made every two (2) weeks
920920 thereafter. Family and medical lea ve insurance benefits are payable
921921 as of the commencement of a covered individual ’s paid family and
922922 medical leave.
923923 SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
924924 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.4 of Title 40, unless there
925925 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
926926
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977977 A. The amount of family and medical leave insurance benefits
978978 shall be determined by the Department of Labor.
979979 B. Family and medical leave insurance benefits are not payable
980980 until the covered in dividual accumulates at least four (4) hours of
981981 family and medical leave.
982982 C. The benefit amount of a covered individual taking paid
983983 family and medical leave from employment shall be based on the
984984 proportion of the covered individual ’s typical workweek spen t at the
985985 job or jobs from which the covered individual is taking paid family
986986 and medical leave, up to the maximum total benefit established by
987987 the Department. A covered individual with multiple jobs may elect
988988 whether to take leave from one job or multiple jobs.
989989 D. 1. Family and medical leave insurance benefits pursuant to
990990 paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act , except for subparagraph c of
991991 paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act, shall be reduced by the amount
992992 of benefits that a covered individual received un der the Employment
993993 Security Act of 1980.
994994 2. During any period of leave pursua nt to subparagraph c of
995995 paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act, family and medical leave
996996 insurance benefits shall be reduced by the amount of benefits that a
997997 covered individual rec eives under Title 85A of the Oklahoma
998998 Statutes.
999999 E. The Commissioner of Labor shall promulgate the rules
10001000 necessary to administer the provisions of this section.
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10521052 SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
10531053 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.5 of Title 40, unless there
10541054 is created a duplication i n numbering, reads as follows:
10551055 A. Payroll contributions shall be authorized for the exclusive
10561056 purpose of financing the payment of benefits under this act and
10571057 implementing and administering the provisions of this act.
10581058 B. Beginning on the effective date of this act, for each
10591059 employee, an employer shall remit to the Family and Medical Leave
10601060 Insurance Fund as created in Section 18 of this act in the form and
10611061 manner determined by the Department of Labor.
10621062 C. Annually, beginning in the fiscal year after the eff ective
10631063 date of this act, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Department
10641064 shall set the contribution rate for the subsequent fiscal year based
10651065 on a percent of employee wages and a t the rate necessary to obtain a
10661066 total amount of contributions equal to one hundred thirty -five
10671067 percent (135%) of the benefits paid during the previous fiscal year
10681068 plus an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the cost of
10691069 administration of the paym ent of those benefits during the previous
10701070 fiscal year, less the amount of net assets remaining in the fund as
10711071 of June 30 of the current fiscal year.
10721072 D. A self-employed person who elects cover age under this act
10731073 shall remit contribution amount pursuant to t his section directly to
10741074 the Department.
10751075
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11261126 E. An employer may deduct a percentage of the contribution
11271127 required for an employee by this section , as determined by the
11281128 Department, from the employee’s wages and shall remit one hundred
11291129 percent (100%) of the contribution required by this section from the
11301130 employer and those employees to the Family and Medical Leave
11311131 Insurance Fund as created in Section 18 of this act.
11321132 F. An employer who fails to or refuses to make contributions as
11331133 required in this section shall be a ssessed a penalty as determined
11341134 by the Department for each year the employer so failed to comply in
11351135 addition to any amounts p reviously owed, or fraction thereof, in
11361136 addition to the total amount of benefits paid to covered individuals
11371137 for whom the employer failed to make contributions. The rate of
11381138 assessment imposed by this subsecti on shall be adjusted each fiscal
11391139 year and annually thereafter. Assessments collected pursuant to
11401140 this subsection shall be deposited in the Family and Medical Leave
11411141 Insurance Fund as created in Section 18 of this act.
11421142 G. An employer’s failure to or refusal to remit contributions
11431143 to the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund as created in Section
11441144 18 of this act as required in this section shall not affect an
11451145 individual’s eligibility for paid family and medical leave and
11461146 family and medical leave insurance b enefits pursuant to this act.
11471147 SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
11481148 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.6 of Title 40, unless there
11491149 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
11501150
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12011201 A. A covered individual shall be entitled to take paid family
12021202 and medical leave on an intermittent or reduce d leave schedule in
12031203 which all of the leave authorized under this act is not take n
12041204 sequentially. Family and medical leave insurance benefits for an
12051205 intermittent or reduc ed leave schedule shall be prorated.
12061206 B. The covered individual shall make a reasonable effort to
12071207 schedule foreseeable paid family and medical leave under this
12081208 section so as not to unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.
12091209 The covered individual shall provide the employer with prior notice
12101210 of the schedule on which the covered individual will be taking the
12111211 leave, to the extent practicable. Paid family and medical leave
12121212 taken under this section shall not result in a reduction of the
12131213 total amount of leave to which a covered individual is entitled
12141214 beyond the amount of leave actually taken.
12151215 C. Nothing in this section shall be construed to entitle a
12161216 covered individual to more lea ve than required pursuant to Section 4
12171217 of this act.
12181218 SECTION 8. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
12191219 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.7 of Title 40, unless there
12201220 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
12211221 A. Any covered individual who exercise his or her right under
12221222 this act to paid family and medical leave shall, upon the expiration
12231223 of that leave, be entitled to be restored by his or her employer to
12241224 the position held by the covered individual when the leave
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12761276 commenced, or to be restored to an equivalent position with
12771277 equivalent seniority, status, employment benefits, pay , and other
12781278 terms and conditions of employment including fringe benefits and
12791279 service credits that the covered individual was entitled to at the
12801280 commencement of leave. A covered individual who exercised his or
12811281 her right under this act to paid family and medical leave but does
12821282 not receive family and medical leave insurance benefits is still
12831283 entitled to the job restoration protection of this se ction.
12841284 B. During any leave pursuant to Section 3 of this act, the
12851285 employer shall maintain any health care benefits that the covered
12861286 individual had prior to taking such leave for the duration of the
12871287 leave as if the covered individual had continued working
12881288 continuously from the date the individual commenced the leave until
12891289 the date the individual returns from paid family and medical leave;
12901290 provided, that the covered individual shall continue to pay the
12911291 covered individual’s share of the cost of health benefit s and that
12921292 the employer shall continue to pay the employer ’s share of the cost
12931293 of health benefits as required prior to the commencement of leave.
12941294 C. This section shall be enforced as provided in Section 2 1 of
12951295 this act.
12961296 SECTION 9. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
12971297 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.8 of Title 40, unless there
12981298 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
12991299
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13501350 A. It shall be unlawful for an employer or any other person to
13511351 commit interference or r estrain or deny the exercise of, or the
13521352 attempt to exercise, any right protected under this act.
13531353 B. An employer, temporary employment company, employment
13541354 agency, employee organization, or other person shall not take
13551355 retaliatory personnel action or otherwi se discriminate against a
13561356 person because that person exercised rights protecte d under this
13571357 act. Such rights include, but are not limited to :
13581358 1. The right to request, file for, apply for or use benefits,
13591359 or take leave provided for under this act ;
13601360 2. The right to communicate to the employer or any other person
13611361 or entity an intent to file a claim, a complaint with the Department
13621362 of Labor or courts, an appeal , that the person has testified or is
13631363 about to testify, or has assisted in any investigation, hearing , or
13641364 proceeding under this act, at any time, including during the period
13651365 in which the person receives family and medical leave insurance
13661366 benefits; and
13671367 3. The right to inform any person of the person ’s rights under
13681368 this act.
13691369 C. It shall be unlawful for an employer’s absence control
13701370 policy to count paid family or medical leave taken under this act as
13711371 an absence that may lead to or result in discipline, discharge,
13721372 demotion, suspension, or any other adverse action.
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14241424 D. Protections of this section shall apply to any person who
14251425 mistakenly, but in good faith, alleges a violation of this act.
14261426 E. This section shall be enforced through the provisions set
14271427 forth in Section 21 of this act.
14281428 SECTION 10. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
14291429 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.9 of Title 40, unless there
14301430 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
14311431 A. 1. Leave taken with family and medical leave insurance
14321432 benefits under this act that also qualifies as leave under the
14331433 Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 shall run concurrently with
14341434 leave taken under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, as
14351435 applicable.
14361436 2. An employer may require that family and medical leave
14371437 insurance benefits payments made pursuant to this act be made
14381438 concurrently or otherwise coordinated with payment made or leave
14391439 allowed under the terms of a short -term disability policy, or a
14401440 separate bank of time off designated solely for the purpose of
14411441 family and medical leave in accordance with this act, under a
14421442 collective bargaining agreement or employer policy. The employer
14431443 shall give employees written notice of this requirement.
14441444 3. Notwithstanding this subsection, an employee shall not be
14451445 required to use or exhaust any accrued vacation leave, sick leave,
14461446 or other paid time off prior to or while receiving family and
14471447 medical leave insurance benefits under this act. A covered
14481448
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14991499 individual may choose to use any accrued vacation leave, sick leave,
15001500 or other paid time off while receiving family or medical leave
15011501 insurance benefits under this act, unless the aggregate amount a
15021502 covered individual would receive would exceed the covered
15031503 individual’s average weekly earnings. Nothing in this subsection
15041504 requires an employee to receive or use additional paid time off as
15051505 described in this section.
15061506 B. 1. This act shall not diminish an employer ’s obligation to
15071507 comply with any of the following that provide leave or benefits
15081508 exceeding the provisions of this act:
15091509 a. a collective bargaining agreement,
15101510 b. an employer policy,
15111511 c. an employment contract, or
15121512 d. any applicable local, state, or federal law.
15131513 2. An individual’s rights, privileges, or remedies to leave and
15141514 benefits under this act may not be diminished by a collective
15151515 bargaining agreement entered into, retained, amended, or renewed, or
15161516 an employer policy adopted, amended, or retained, after the
15171517 effective date of this act.
15181518 3. This act shall not diminish an individual ’s rights,
15191519 privileges, or remedies under a collective bargaining agreement,
15201520 employer policy, or employment contract, as applicable.
15211521 4. Any agreement by an individual to waive the individual ’s
15221522 rights under this act is void.
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15741574 SECTION 11. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
15751575 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.10 of Title 40, unless there
15761576 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
15771577 A. Each employer shall provide written notice pursuant to this
15781578 section to each employee upon hiring and annual ly thereafter. An
15791579 employer shall also provide written notice to an employee when the
15801580 employee requests leave under this act or when the employer acquires
15811581 knowledge that an employee’s leave may be for a qualifying reason
15821582 under paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act. Such notice shall
15831583 include:
15841584 1. The employee’s right to family and medical leave i nsurance
15851585 benefits under this act and the terms under which they may be used;
15861586 2. The amount of family and medical leave insurance benefits
15871587 available;
15881588 3. The procedure for filing a claim for benefits;
15891589 4. The right to job restoration and benefits continuat ion under
15901590 Section 8 of this act;
15911591 5. That discrimination and retaliatory perso nnel actions
15921592 against a person for requesting, applying for , or using family and
15931593 medical leave insurance benefits are prohibited under Section 9 of
15941594 this act; and
15951595 6. That the employee has a right to file a complaint for
15961596 violations of this act.
15971597
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16481648 B. Each employer shall also display and maintain a poster in a
16491649 conspicuous place accessible to employees at the employer ’s place of
16501650 business that contains the information required by this se ction in a
16511651 form approved by the Department of Labor; provided, that in cases
16521652 where the employer does not maintain a physical workplace, or an
16531653 employee teleworks or performs work through a web-based or app-based
16541654 platform, notification shall be sent via elec tronic communication or
16551655 a conspicuous posting on the web -based and app-based platform.
16561656 C. All notices required by subsections A and B of this section
16571657 shall be provided in English, the language typically used in
16581658 communications between the employer and an i ndividual employee, and
16591659 any other language that an employer may deem to be a primary
16601660 language for a majority of employees at a workplace , provided that
16611661 such notice has been provided by the Department. The Commissioner
16621662 of Labor may promulgate rules to esta blish additional requirements
16631663 concerning the means by which employers provide such notice.
16641664 D. Any employer that violates subsection A, B, or C of this
16651665 section shall be assessed a fine not less than One Hundred Dollars
16661666 ($100.00) and no more than Five Hundr ed Dollars ($500.00) per day
16671667 per employee for each violation. Assessments col lected pursuant to
16681668 this subsection shall be deposited in the Family and Medical Leave
16691669 Insurance Fund as created in Section 18 of this act.
16701670 E. Employees shall provide notice of their intention to take
16711671 leave to their employers under this act; provided, that when the
16721672
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17231723 need for leave is foreseeable, employees shall not be required to
17241724 provide more than ten (10) business days’ notice to their employers.
17251725 SECTION 12. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
17261726 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Sect ion 950.11 of Title 40, unless there
17271727 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
17281728 A. The Commissioner of Labor shall establish a system for an
17291729 aggrieved individual t o appeal any determination of his or her claim
17301730 for family and medical leave insurance benefits within ninety (90)
17311731 days of receiving notice of the determination. In establishing such
17321732 system, the Commission er may utilize any and all procedures and
17331733 appeals mechanisms established in Title 40 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
17341734 provided, that employers shall not be a party to any appeal pursuant
17351735 to this subsection.
17361736 B. Upon receipt of the Department of Labor ’s determination on
17371737 appeal, an aggrieved individual may seek jud icial review in court.
17381738 C. The Commissioner shall implement procedures to ensure
17391739 confidentiality of all information related to any claims filed or
17401740 appeals taken to the maximum extent permitted by applicable laws.
17411741 SECTION 13. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
17421742 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.12 of Title 40, unless there
17431743 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
17441744 A. A covered individual may be disqualified from family and
17451745 medical leave insurance benefits for up to one (1) year if the
17461746 individual is determined by the Commissioner of Labor to have
17471747
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17981798 willfully and knowingly made a false statement or misrepresentation
17991799 regarding a material fact, or willfully and knowingly failed to
18001800 report a material fact, to obtai n benefits under this act. A
18011801 covered individual may appeal such determination by the
18021802 Commissioner.
18031803 B. If family and medical leave insurance benefits are paid
18041804 erroneously as a result of willful misrepresentation, or if a claim
18051805 for family and medical leave insurance benefits is rejected after
18061806 benefits are paid, the Department of Labor may seek repayment of
18071807 benefits from the recipient. The Commissioner shall exercise
18081808 discretion to waive, in whole or in part, the amount of any such
18091809 payments.
18101810 SECTION 14. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
18111811 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.13 of Title 40, unless there
18121812 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
18131813 A. A self-employed person, including an independent contractor,
18141814 sole proprietor, partner, or joint venturer, may elect coverage
18151815 under this act for an initial period of not less than three (3)
18161816 years; provided, that a self -employed person who elects coverage
18171817 shall be eligible for family and medical leave insurance benefits
18181818 immediately when that person meets the requirements of paragraph 8
18191819 of Section 2 of this act, including wages earned from work in
18201820 employment and self-employment. The self -employed person shall file
18211821 a notice of election in writing with the Commissioner of Labor, as
18221822
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18731873 required by the Department of Labor. The election becomes effective
18741874 on the date of filing the notice. As a condition of election, the
18751875 self-employed person shall agree to supply any information
18761876 concerning income that the Department deems necessa ry.
18771877 B. A self-employed person who has elected coverage may withdraw
18781878 from coverage within thirty (30) days after the end of the three -
18791879 year period of coverage, or at such other times as the Commissioner
18801880 may prescribe by rule, by filing written notice with t he
18811881 Commissioner, with such withdrawal to take effect no earlier than
18821882 thirty (30) days after filing the notice.
18831883 C. A person who has elected coverage under this section shall
18841884 be excused from his or her obligations under this section, as the
18851885 Department shall promulgate by rule, if:
18861886 1. The person is no longer a self -employed person; or
18871887 2. The person no longer works in this state.
18881888 SECTION 15. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
18891889 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.14 of Title 40, unless there
18901890 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
18911891 A. The Department of Labor shall establish and administer
18921892 family and medical leave insurance, collect contributions, and pay
18931893 family and medical leave insurance benefits as specifie d in this
18941894 act. The provisions of this act shall be administered and
18951895 implemented by the Department. The Department shall be the entity
18961896 that collects contributions, processes and determine s claims for
18971897
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19481948 family and medical leave insurance benefits, and admini sters appeals
19491949 to the Department pursuant to Section 12 of this act.
19501950 B. The Department shall notify the employer with in five (5)
19511951 business days of a claim being filed pursuant to this act. The
19521952 Department is not required to receive any acknowledgement or re pose
19531953 from the employer before processing the applicant ’s claim.
19541954 C. The Department may use information -sharing and integration
19551955 technology to facilitate the disclosure of relevant information or
19561956 records to the extent permitted under state and federal privac y and
19571957 confidentiality laws, so long as an individual consents to the
19581958 disclosure as required under this law.
19591959 D. Information contained in the files and records pertaining to
19601960 an individual under this act are confidential and shall not be
19611961 disclosed or made op en to public inspection, other than to public
19621962 employees in the course of offic ial duties, to other agencies as
19631963 necessary for administration of this act, or as otherwise required
19641964 by law. The individual or an authorized representative of the
19651965 individual may review the records or receive specific information
19661966 from the records upon presentation of the individual ’s signed
19671967 authorization.
19681968 E. The Commissioner of Labor shall promulgate any rules
19691969 necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
19701970
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20212021 SECTION 16. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
20222022 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.15 of Title 40, unless there
20232023 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
20242024 A. As provided in this section, the Department of Labor shall
20252025 establish reasonable procedures and forms for filing claims for
20262026 benefits under this act and shall institute forms and procedures
20272027 that are not unduly burdensome to an individual claiming benefits.
20282028 Such forms, including medical certification forms, shall be
20292029 available in English and any other language deemed necessary by the
20302030 Commissioner of Labor.
20312031 B. An individual may file an application for family and medical
20322032 leave insurance benefits no more than sixty (60) days before the
20332033 anticipated start date of paid family and medical leave and no more
20342034 than ninety (90) days after the start date of paid family and
20352035 medical leave. The Department shall waive the ninety -day filing
20362036 deadline for good cause. Exact dates of absence are not require d
20372037 for the Department to process a claim , and claim data may be
20382038 adjusted through a claims modification process as esta blished by the
20392039 Department.
20402040 C. Certification for a covered individual taking leave under
20412041 subparagraph a of paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act shall be
20422042 sufficient if the covered individual provides:
20432043 1. The child’s birth certificate;
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20952095 2. A document stating the child ’s birth date issued by the
20962096 health care provider of the child or the health care provider of the
20972097 person who gave birth;
20982098 3. A document issued by the health care provid er of the child,
20992099 an adoption agency involved in the adoption, or by other
21002100 individuals, as determined by the Department, that confirms the
21012101 adoption or anticipat ed adoption and the date of adoption or
21022102 anticipated adoption;
21032103 4. A document issued by the health care provider of the child,
21042104 a foster care agency involved in the placement, or by other
21052105 individuals, as determined by the Department, that confirms the
21062106 placement or anticipated placement and the date of placement or
21072107 anticipated placement; or
21082108 5. A voluntary acknowledgement of parentage.
21092109 D. Certification for a covered individual ta king leave under
21102110 subparagraph b of paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act shall be
21112111 sufficient if it states the date on which the serious health
21122112 condition commenced, the probable du ration of the condition, the
21132113 appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care
21142114 provider as required by the Department, a statement that the covered
21152115 individual is needed to care for the family member, and an estimate
21162116 of the amount of time th at the covered individual is needed to care
21172117 for the family member.
21182118
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21692169 E. Certification for a covered individual taking leave under
21702170 subparagraph c of paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act shall be
21712171 sufficient if it states the date on which the serious health
21722172 condition commenced, the probable duration of the condition, and the
21732173 appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care
21742174 provider as required by the Department.
21752175 F. Certification for a covered individual taking leaving under
21762176 subparagraph d of paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act shall be
21772177 sufficient if it includes:
21782178 1. A copy of the family member ’s active-duty orders;
21792179 2. Documentation issued by the Armed Forces; or
21802180 3. Other documentation permitted by the Department.
21812181 G. Certification for a cove red individual taking leave under
21822182 subparagraph e of paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act shall be
21832183 sufficient if the covered individual provides:
21842184 1. A police report indicating the covered individual or covered
21852185 individual’s family member was a victim of any act defined in
21862186 Section 60.1 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
21872187 2. A court document indicating that the covered individual or
21882188 covered individual’s family member is involved in legal action
21892189 related to any act defined in Section 60.1 of Title 22 of the
21902190 Oklahoma Statutes;
21912191 3. A signed statement from an attorney, member of the clergy,
21922192 victim and witness advocate, or a medical professional affirming
21932193
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22442244 that the covered individual or covered individual ’s family member is
22452245 a victim of any act defined in Section 60 .1 of Title 22 of the
22462246 Oklahoma Statutes; or
22472247 4. The covered individual ’s statement, which need not be
22482248 notarized or in any particular form, affirming that the covered
22492249 individual or the covered individual ’s family member is a victim of
22502250 any act defined in Sec tion 60.1 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma
22512251 Statutes.
22522252 H. Notwithstanding subsections C through G of this section, the
22532253 Department shall accept alternative certification for any leave
22542254 under paragraph 2 of Section 3 of this act that demonstrates the
22552255 covered individual’s need for leave for a purpose specified in
22562256 paragraph 2 of Section 3 of t his act.
22572257 I. An application for family and medical leave insurance
22582258 benefits, including certification pursuant to this section, shall be
22592259 submitted electronically, by mail, or by a nother method specified by
22602260 the Department.
22612261 J. Any medical, health, or other personal information required
22622262 under this section shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed
22632263 except with permission from the covered individual who provided it
22642264 unless disclosure is otherwise required by law.
22652265 K. A health care provider shall provide a c ertification of a
22662266 serious health condition required by this act for paid family or
22672267 medical leave, including any required documentation of a serious
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23192319 health condition, within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of a
23202320 request and authorization from the patient.
23212321 1. Nothing in this section require s a provider to complete a
23222322 certification for a serious health condition for which the provider
23232323 does not have the necessary patient information .
23242324 2. If a health care facility requires administrati ve review of
23252325 information or documentation required by this act prior to allowing
23262326 a provider to submit the certification of a serious health
23272327 condition, then the health care facility shall implement and
23282328 maintain policies and practices in conformance with this subsection.
23292329 3. A health care provider or health care facility may not
23302330 charge a fee for the execution of certification of a serious health
23312331 condition under this section. This does not prohibit or limit the
23322332 ability of a health care provider to charge a fee associated with
23332333 any office visit necessary for evaluating the patient.
23342334 SECTION 17. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
23352335 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.16 of Title 40, unless there
23362336 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
23372337 A. If the Internal Revenue Service determines that family and
23382338 medical leave insurance benefits under this act are subject to
23392339 federal income tax, the Department of Labor shall infor m an
23402340 individual filing a new claim for family and medical leave insurance
23412341 benefits, at the time of filing such claim, that:
23422342
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23932393 1. The Internal Revenue Service has determined that benefits
23942394 are subject to federal income tax; and
23952395 2. Requirements may exist pert aining to estimated tax payments.
23962396 B. Family and medical leave insurance benefits pursuant to this
23972397 act are not subject to state income tax.
23982398 SECTION 18. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
23992399 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.17 of Title 40, unless there
24002400 is created a duplication in numbering, reads a s follows:
24012401 There is hereby established as a special fund, separate and
24022402 apart from all public monies or funds of this state, the “Family and
24032403 Medical Leave Insurance Fund ”, which shall be administered by the
24042404 Department of Labor exclusively for the purpose of the family and
24052405 medical leave insurance benefits established by this act. This fund
24062406 shall consist of:
24072407 1. All contributions collected pursuant to this act, together
24082408 with any interest thereon collected pursuant to this act;
24092409 2. All penalties collected purs uant to the provisions of this
24102410 act;
24112411 3. Interest earned upon any monies in the fund;
24122412 4. Any property or securities acquired through the use of
24132413 monies belonging to the fund;
24142414 5. All earnings of such property or securities; and
24152415 6. All other monies received for the fund from any other
24162416 source.
24172417
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24682468 SECTION 19. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
24692469 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.18 of Title 40, unless there
24702470 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
24712471 A. Beginning on the effective date of this act, the Department
24722472 of Labor shall submit a report to the Legislature at the end of each
24732473 year that includes:
24742474 1. Projected and actual participation under paragraph 2 of
24752475 Section 3 of this act;
24762476 2. Age, gender, race , ethnicity, sexual orientation, primary or
24772477 preferred language, residential zip code, average weekly wage,
24782478 occupation, and employment type as collected through the initial
24792479 application process for all applicants and for applicants with an
24802480 approved claim;
24812481 3. Average weekly benefit;
24822482 4. Average leave duration as a result of paragraph 2 of Section
24832483 3 of this act;
24842484 5. Contribution rates;
24852485 6. Current and projected fund balances;
24862486 7. Processing times for initial claims processing and
24872487 determinations;
24882488 8. State reasons for claim denials;
24892489 9. Number of appeals filed and outcomes related to appeals;
24902490 10. Average length of time between application and receipt of
24912491 benefits;
24922492
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25432543 11. A description of the Departme nt’s outreach efforts; and
25442544 12. For leaves taken under subparagraph b of parag raph 2 of
25452545 Section 3 of this act, category of family member for whom leave was
25462546 taken to provide care.
25472547 B. Such report shall be made publicly available immediately
25482548 following submission to the Legislature.
25492549 SECTION 20. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
25502550 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.19 of Title 40, unless there
25512551 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
25522552 After the effective date o f this act, and for as long as th is
25532553 act continues, the Department of Labor sha ll conduct a public
25542554 education campaign to educate workers and employers about the
25552555 availability of family and medical leave insurance benefits under
25562556 this act, including certificat ion requirements pursuant to Section
25572557 16 of this act. The Department may use funds collected pursuant to
25582558 this act in a given year to pay for the public education program.
25592559 SECTION 21. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
25602560 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.20 of Title 40, unless there
25612561 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
25622562 A. Any individual who believes that his or her rights under
25632563 this act have been interfered with, restrained, or denied in
25642564 violation of this act or that the individual has been discharged or
25652565 otherwise discriminated against in violation of this act may, within
25662566 twenty-four (24) months after the violation occurs or the individual
25672567
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26182618 should reasonably have known that the violation occurred, whiche ver
26192619 is later:
26202620 1. File a complaint with the Department of Labor alleging the
26212621 violation; or
26222622 2. Bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction.
26232623 B. The Department shall process complaints filed pursuant to
26242624 paragraph 1 of subsection A of this sect ion in the same manner as
26252625 complaints filed under Title 40 of the Oklahoma Statutes are
26262626 processed. If the Department finds that an employer has violated
26272627 Section 8 or 9 of this act, the Department shall:
26282628 1. Order the employer to take action to remedy the v iolation,
26292629 which may include:
26302630 a. providing the requested family or medical leav e,
26312631 b. reinstating an employee,
26322632 c. providing for up to two (2) years of back pay,
26332633 d. interest on the amount described in subparagraph c of
26342634 this paragraph calculated at the prevail ing rate,
26352635 e. liquidated damages equal to the sum of the amount
26362636 described in subparagraph c of this paragraph and the
26372637 interest described in subparagraph d of this
26382638 paragraph,
26392639 f. paying reasonable actual attorney fees to the
26402640 complainant, and
26412641 g. any other relief the Department deems appropriate; and
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26932693 2. Assess the employer a penalty not less than Five Hundred
26942694 Dollars ($500.00), with such assessments to be deposited in the
26952695 Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund as created in Section 18 of
26962696 this act.
26972697 C. An individual or the Department may bring a civil action in
26982698 a court of competent jurisdiction against an employer for a
26992699 violation of Section 8 or 9 of this act. Such action may be brought
27002700 by an individual aggrieved by a violation of Section 8 or 9 of this
27012701 act without first filing a complaint with the Department. The court
27022702 may order payment of damages caused by the violation, liquidated
27032703 damages, reasonable costs including attorney fees, and legal and
27042704 equitable relief as the court deems appropriate. A civil action
27052705 brought after the completion of an administrative proceeding under
27062706 subsection B of this section shall be commenced within twenty -four
27072707 (24) months after the completion of such proceeding.
27082708 SECTION 22. NEW LAW A new section of law to b e codified
27092709 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 950.21 of Title 40, unless there
27102710 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
27112711 The Department of Labor shall use state data collection,
27122712 technology, outreach , and educational efforts to the extent po ssible
27132713 and integrate this act with existing and future state policies,
27142714 programs, and practices including, but not limited to, policies,
27152715 programs, and practices that serve populations intended to be served
27162716 by this act and data that promotes this act’s effectiveness,
27172717
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27682768 efficiency, and utilization. Nothing in this act should be
27692769 interpreted as interfering with such coordination efforts. The
27702770 state shall report on these coordination efforts on an annual basis
27712771 beginning after the effective date of this act.
27722772 SECTION 23. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
27732773
27742774 60-1-718 MR 12/30/2024 10:09:02 PM