Illinois expands entry to family and medical depart | Granite Metropolis Information

A new law in Illinois extends access to family and sick leave for educational staff in school districts, colleges, and universities.

The law enables people who have been employed for at least 12 months and have worked at least 1,000 hours to qualify for the Federal Family and Care Leave Act. The previous threshold was 1,250 hours.

“The people who keep our schools running smoothly have fair access to FMLA when their families face illness and other life changing events, ”said Rep. Terra Costa-Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, the Bill’s co-sponsorsaid.

The Family and Sick Leave Act, enacted in 1993, enables an employee to recover from severe health, care for a family member with severe health, bond with a new child, deal with qualifying emergencies that arise from family member’s military service or Caring for a family member who has suffered a serious injury during active military service.

“Our educators and school staff work on the front lines every day to provide quality education for our teens and deserve their unconditional vacation, ”said co-sponsor of the law, Senator Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago.

During the debate on the bill, State Representative Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, said it would be a burden on employers who have to pay others to cover the missing staff.

“You have to either fill in or work overtime or whatever to fill the position that person can no longer fill, ”Ugaste said.

The new law will include educational support staff such as teacher assistants, secretaries, maintenance staff, canteen staff and school bus drivers.

HB 12 comes into force on January 1, 2022.