BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page1of15
H.461
SHORTFORM
IntroducedbyRepresentativeKrasnowofSouthBurlington
ReferredtoCommitteeon
Date:
Subject:Labor;employmentpractices;ParentalandFamilyLeaveAct
Statementofpurposeofbillasintroduced:Thisbillproposestoexpandaccess
tounpaidfamilyandmedicalleaveandprovidejob-protectedleaveforreasons
relatedtodomesticviolence,sexualassault,stalking,bereavement,anda
qualifyingexigency.
Anactrelatingtoexpandingemployeeaccesstounpaidleave
ItisherebyenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheStateofVermont:
(TEXTOMITTEDINSHORT-FORMBILLS)
Sec.1.INTENT
ItistheintentoftheGeneralAssemblytoalignVermont’sfamilyleave
policieswithinclusiveandequitablestandards,ensuringthatLGBTQ+
families,workerswithlowincome,andindividualsinnontraditionalfamily
structureshaveequalaccesstocaregivingleavewithoutundueburden.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13 BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page2of15
Sec.2.21V.S.A.§471isamendedtoread:
§471.DEFINITIONS
Asusedinthissubchapter:
(1)“Bereavementleave”meansaleaveofabsencefromemploymentor
self-employmentbyanindividualduetothedeathoftheindividual’sfamily
memberthatoccursnotmorethanoneyearafterthefamilymember’sdeath.
Bereavementleaveincludesleavetakeninrelationtotheadministrationor
settlementofthedeceasedfamilymember’sestate.Leavetakeninrelationto
theadministrationorsettlementofthedeceasedfamilymember’sestateshall
notoccurmorethanoneyearafterthefamilymember’sdeath.
(2)“Domesticpartner”meansanindividualwithwhomtheemployee
hasanenduringdomesticrelationshipofaspousalnature,providedthe
employeeandthedomesticpartner:
(A)havesharedaresidenceforatleastsixconsecutivemonths;
(B)areatleast18yearsofage;
(C)arenotmarriedtoorconsideredadomesticpartnerofanother
individual;
(D)arenotrelatedbybloodcloserthanwouldbarmarriageunder
Statelaw;and
(E)haveagreedbetweenthemselvestoberesponsibleforeach
other’swelfare. BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page3of15
(3)“Domesticviolence”hasthesamemeaningasin15V.S.A.§1151.
(4)“Employer”meansanindividual,organization,orgovernmental
body,partnership,association,corporation,legalrepresentative,trustee,
receiver,trusteeinbankruptcy,andanycommoncarrierbyrail,motor,water,
air,orexpresscompanydoingbusinessinoroperatingwithinthisStatethata
personwhoforthepurposesofparentalleave,bereavementleave,safeleave,
andleaveforaqualifyingexigencyemploys10ormoreindividualswhoare
employedforanaverageofatleast30hoursperweekduringayearandfor
thepurposesoffamilyleaveemploys15ormoreindividualsforanaverageof
atleast30hoursperweekduringayear.
(2)(5)“Employee”meansapersonwho,inconsiderationofdirector
indirectgainorprofit,hasbeencontinuouslyemployedbythesameemployer
foraperiodofoneyearforanaverageofatleast30hoursperweek.
(3)(6)“Familyleave”meansaleaveofabsencefromemploymentbyan
employeewhoworksforanemployerthatemploys15ormoreindividualswho
areemployedforanaverageofatleast30hoursperweekduringtheyearfor
oneofthefollowingreasons:
(A)theserioushealthconditionoftheemployee;or
(B)theserioushealthconditionoftheemployee’schild,stepchildor
wardwholiveswiththeemployee,fosterchild,parent,spouse,orparentofthe
employee’sspousefamilymember. BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page4of15
(7)“Familymember”means:
(A)regardlessofage,anemployee’sbiological,adopted,orfoster
child;anemployee’sstepchildorlegalward;achildoftheemployee’sspouse
orcivilunionordomesticpartner;orachildtowhomtheemployeestandsin
locoparentis,regardlessoflegaldocumentation;anindividualtowhomthe
employeestoodinlocoparentiswhentheindividualwasunder18yearsof
age;oranyindividualforwhomtheemployeeprovidescaregiving
responsibilitiessimilartothoseofaparent-childrelationship;
(B)(i)aparentofanemployeeoranemployee’sspouseorcivilunion
ordomesticpartner,regardlessofwhethertherelationshiptotheemployeeor
theemployee’sspouseorcivilunionordomesticpartnerisabiological,foster,
adoptive,orsteprelationship;
(ii)alegalguardianofanemployeeoremployee’sspouseorcivil
unionordomesticpartner;or
(iii)apersonwhostandsinlocoparentisfortheemployeeorwho
stoodinlocoparentiswhentheemployeeoremployee’sspouseorcivilunion
ordomesticpartnerwasunder18yearsofage;
(C)apersontowhomtheemployeeislegallymarriedunderthelaws
ofanystateoracivilunionordomesticpartnerofanemployee;or
(D)agrandparent,grandchild,orsiblingoftheemployeeorthe
employee’sspouseorcivilunionordomesticpartner,regardlessofwhetherthe BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page5of15
relationshiptotheemployeeortheemployee’sspouseorcivilunionor
domesticpartnerisabiological,foster,adoptive,orsteprelationship.
(4)(8)“Healthcareprovider”meansalicensedhealthcareprovideror
ahealthcareproviderasdefinedpursuantto29C.F.R.§825.125.
(9)“Inlocoparentis”meansarelationshipinwhichanindividualhas
day-to-dayresponsibilitiestocareforandsupportachild,regardlessof
biologicalorlegalties.Financialsupportisnotarequirementforthis
relationship,recognizingcaregivingrolesbeyondtraditionaldefinitions.
(5)(10)“Parentalleave”meansaleaveofabsencefromemploymentby
anemployeewhoworksforanemployerthatemploys10ormoreindividuals
whoareemployedforanaverageofatleast30hoursperweekduringtheyear
foroneofthefollowingreasons:
(A)thebirthoftheemployee’schildpregnancy;
(B)theemployee’srecoveryfromchildbirthormiscarriage;
(C)thebirthoftheemployee’schildandtocarefororbondwiththe
childwithinoneyearafterthechild’sbirth;or
(B)(D)theinitialplacementofachild1618yearsofageoryounger
withtheemployeeforthepurposeofadoptionorfostercareandtocareforor
bondwiththechildwithinoneyearaftertheplacementforadoptionorfoster
care. BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page6of15
(11)“Qualifyingexigency”meansaqualifyingexigencyidentified
pursuantto29C.F.R.§825.126thatisrelatedtoactivedutyservicebya
familymemberintheU.S.ArmedForces.
(12)“Safeleave”meansaleaveofabsencefromemploymentbyan
employeebecause:
(A)theemployeeortheemployee’sfamilymemberisavictimor
allegedvictimofdomesticviolence,sexualassault,orstalking;
(B)theemployeeisusingleaveforoneofthefollowingreasons
relatedtodomesticviolence,sexualassault,orstalking:
(i)toseekorobtainmedicalcare,counseling,orsocialorlegal
services,eitherforthemselvesorforafamilymember;
(ii)torecoverfrominjuries;
(iii)toparticipateinsafetyplanning,eitherforthemselvesorfor
afamilymember;
(iv)torelocateorsecuresafehousing,eitherforthemselvesorfor
afamilymember;
(v)tomeetwithaState’sAttorneyorlawenforcementofficer;or
(vi)toattendahearingconcerninganorderagainststalkingor
sexualassaultpursuantto12V.S.A.§5133,whentheemployeeseekstheorder
asaplaintiff;and BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page7of15
(C)theemployeeisnottheperpetratororallegedperpetratorofthe
domesticviolence,sexualassault,orstalking.
(6)(13)“Serioushealthcondition”means:
(A)anaccident,illness,injury,disease,orphysicalormental
conditionthat:
(i)posesimminentdangerofdeath;
(ii)requiresinpatientcareinahospital,hospice,orresidential
medicalcarefacility;or
(iii)requirescontinuingtreatmentbyahealthcareprovider;or
(B)rehabilitationfromanaccident,illness,injury,disease,or
physicalormentalconditiondescribedinsubdivision(A)ofthissubdivision
(6)(13),includingtreatmentforsubstanceusedisorder.
(14)“Sexualassault”hasthesamemeaningasin15V.S.A.§1151.
(15)“Stalking”hasthesamemeaningasin15V.S.A.§1151.
(16)“U.S.ArmedForces”means:
(A)theU.S.Army,Navy,AirForce,MarineCorps,SpaceForce,and
CoastGuard;
(B)areservecomponentoftheU.S.Army,Navy,AirForce,Marine
Corps,SpaceForce,andCoastGuard;or
(C)theNationalGuardofanystate.
Sec.3.21V.S.A.§472isamendedtoread: BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page8of15
§472.LEAVE
(a)(1)Duringany12-monthperiod,anemployeeshallbeentitledtotake
unpaidleaveforaperiodnottoexceed12weeks:
(1)(A)forparentalleave,duringtheemployee’spregnancyand
followingthebirthofanemployee’schildorwithinayearfollowingtheinitial
placementofachild16yearsofageoryoungerwiththeemployeeforthe
purposeofadoption.;
(2)(B)forfamilyleave,fortheserioushealthconditionoftheemployee
ortheemployee’schild,stepchildorwardoftheemployeewholiveswiththe
employee,fosterchild,parent,spouse,orparentoftheemployee’sspouse;
(C)forsafeleave;or
(D)foraqualifyingexigency.
(2)Duringany12-monthperiod,anemployeemayuseuptotwooutof
the12weeksofleaveavailablepursuanttosubdivision(1)ofthissubsection
forbereavementleave.
(b)Duringtheleave,attheemployee’soption,theemployeemayuse
accruedsickleaveor,vacationleaveor,anyotheraccruedpaidleave,notto
exceedsixweeksorshort-termdisabilityinsurance.Utilizationofaccrued
paidleaveorshort-termdisabilityinsuranceshallnotextendtheleave
providedpursuanttothissection.
*** BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page9of15
(e)(1)Anemployeeshallgivetheemployerreasonablewrittennoticeof
intenttotakeleaveunderthissubchaptersection.Noticeshallincludethe
datetheleaveisexpectedtocommenceandtheestimateddurationofthe
leave.
(2)Inthecaseoftheadoptionorbirthofachild,anemployershallnot
requirethatnoticebegivenmorethansixweekspriortotheanticipated
commencementoftheleave.
(3)Inthecaseofanunanticipatedserioushealthcondition,a
miscarriage,anunanticipatedneedforsafeleave,aprematurebirth,thedeath
ofafamilymember,orashort-noticequalifyingexigency,theemployeeshall
givetheemployernoticeofthecommencementoftheleaveassoonas
practicable.
(4)(A)Inthecaseofaserioushealthconditionoftheemployeeora
memberoftheemployee’sfamily,anemployermayrequirecertificationfroma
healthcareprovidertoverifytheconditionandtheamountandnecessityfor
theleaverequested.
(B)Anemployermayrequireanemployeetoprovidedocumentation
oftheneedforsafeleave.Anemployeemayprovidedocumentationfromany
oneofthefollowingsources:
(i)acourtoralawenforcementorothergovernmentagency; BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page10of15
(ii)adomesticviolence,sexualassault,orstalkingassistance
program;
(iii)alegal,clerical,medical,orotherprofessionalfromwhom
theemployee,ortheemployee’sfamilymember,receivedcounselingorother
assistanceconcerningdomesticviolence,sexualassault,orstalking;or
(iv)aself-attestationbytheemployeedescribingthe
circumstancessupportingtheneedforsafeleave;nofurthercorroboration
shallberequiredunlessotherwisemandatedbylaw.
(C)Anemployermayrequireanemployeetoprovidedocumentation
oftheneedforbereavementleave.Anemployeemayprovideanyofthe
followingformsofdocumentation:
(i)adeathcertificate;
(ii)apublishedobituary;or
(iii)awrittennoticeorverificationofdeath,burial,ormemorial
servicesfromamortuary,funeralhome,burialsociety,crematorium,religious
organization,orgovernmentalagency.
(D)Anemployermayrequireanemployeetoprovidedocumentation
oftheneedforleaveforaqualifyingexigencyassetforthin29C.F.R.
§ 825.309. BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page11of15
(E)Anemployershallnotdiscloseanyprivatemedicalinformation
orinformationrelatingtoasafeleavethattheemployerreceivespursuantto
thissubdivision(4)excepttotheextentthedisclosureispermittedbylawand:
(i)consentedtobytheemployeeinwriting;
(ii)requiredpursuanttoacourtorder;or
(iii)requiredpursuanttoStateorfederallaw.
(4)(5)Anemployeemayreturnfromleaveearlierthanestimatedupon
approvaloftheemployer.
(5)(6)Anemployeeshallprovidereasonablenoticetotheemployerof
theneedtoextendleavetotheextentprovidedbythissubchapter.
(f)Uponreturnfromleavetakenunderthissubchapter,anemployeeshall
beofferedthesameorcomparablejobatthesamelevelofcompensation,
employmentbenefits,seniority,oranyothertermorconditionofthe
employmentexistingonthedayleavebegan.Thissubchaptersubsectionshall
notapplyif,priortorequestingleave,theemployeehadbeengivennoticeor
hadgivennoticethattheemploymentwouldterminate.Thissubsectionshall
notapplyiftheemployercandemonstratebyclearandconvincingevidence
that:
(1)duringtheperiodofleavetheemployee’sjobwouldhavebeen
terminatedortheemployeelaidoffforreasonsunrelatedtotheleaveorthe
conditionforwhichtheleavewasgranted;or BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page12of15
(2)theemployeeperformeduniqueservicesandhiringapermanent
replacementduringtheleave,aftergivingreasonablenoticetotheemployeeof
intenttodoso,wastheonlyalternativeavailabletotheemployertoprevent
substantialandgrievouseconomicinjurytotheemployer’soperation.
(g)(1)Anemployermayadoptaleavepolicymoregenerousthantheleave
policyprovidedbythissubchapter.
(2)(A)Nothinginthissubchaptershallbeconstruedtodiminishan
employer’sobligationtocomplywithanycollectivebargainingagreementor
anyemploymentbenefitprogramorplanthatprovidesgreaterleaverights
thantherightsprovidedbythissubchapter.
(B)Acollectivebargainingagreementoremploymentbenefit
programorplanmaynotdiminishrightsprovidedbythissubchapter.
(3)Notwithstandingtheprovisionsofthissubchapter,anemployeemay,
atthetimeaneedforparentalorfamilyleavearises,waivesomeorallthe
rightsunderthissubchapterprovidedthewaiverisinformedandvoluntary
andanychangesinconditionsofemploymentrelatedtoanywaivershallbe
mutuallyagreeduponbetweenemployerandemployee.
(h)Exceptfortheserioushealthconditionoftheemployeeorsafeleave
whentheemployeeisthevictimorallegedvictim,anemployeewhodoesnot
returntoemploymentwiththeemployerwhoprovidedtheleaveshallreturnto
theemployerthevalueofanycompensationthattheemployerpaidtooron BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page13of15
behalfoftheemployeeduringtheleave,exceptpaymentsforaccruedsick
leaveorvacationleave.
Sec.4.21V.S.A.§472aisamendedtoread:
§472a.SHORT-TERMFAMILYLEAVE
(a)Inadditiontotheleaveprovidedinsection472ofthistitle,an
employeeshallbeentitledtotakeunpaidleavenottoexceedfourhoursinany
30-dayperiodandnottoexceed24hoursinany12-monthperiod.An
employermayrequirethatleavebetakeninaminimumoftwo-hoursegments
andmaybetakenforanyofthefollowingpurposes:
(1)Toparticipateinpreschoolorschoolactivitiesdirectlyrelatedtothe
academiceducationaladvancementoftheemployee’schild,stepchild,foster
child,orwardwholiveswiththeemployeefamilymember,suchasaparent-
teacherconference.
(2)Toattendortoaccompanytheemployee’schild,stepchild,foster
child,orwardwholiveswiththeemployeeortheemployee’sparent,spouse,
orparent-in-lawfamilymembertoroutinemedicalordentalappointments.
(3)Toaccompanytheemployee’sparent,spouse,orparent-in-law
familymembertootherappointmentsforprofessionalservicesrelatedtotheir
careandwell-being. BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page14of15
(4)Torespondtoamedicalemergencyinvolvingtheemployee’schild,
stepchild,fosterchild,orwardwholiveswiththeemployeeortheemployee’s
parent,spouse,orparent-in-lawfamilymember.
***
Sec.5.21V.S.A.§472cisamendedtoread:
§472c.LEAVE;ALLEGEDCRIMEVICTIMS;RELIEFFROM
STALKINGORABUSE
***
(b)Inadditiontotheleaveprovidedinsection472ofthistitle,an
employeeshallbeentitledtotakeunpaidleavefromemploymentforthe
purposeofattendingadepositionorcourtproceedingrelatedto:
***
(2)arelieffromabusehearingpursuantto15V.S.A.§1103,whenthe
employeeseekstheorderasaplaintiff;or
(3)ahearingconcerninganorderagainststalkingorsexualassault
pursuantto12V.S.A.§5133,whentheemployeeseekstheorderasplaintiff;
or
(4)arelieffromabuse,neglect,orexploitationhearingpursuantto
33 V.S.A.chapter69,whentheemployeeistheplaintiff.
*** BILLASPASSEDBYTHEHOUSE H.461
2025 Page15of15
Sec.6.EFFECTIVEDATE
ThisactshalltakeeffectonJuly1,2025.