Indiana workers could get partial leave pay if funding is sufficient

Eligible employees could receive partial pay during qualifying family leave. This covers employees of employers covered by the program. Leave can cover a new child or a serious health condition affecting a child, spouse, parent, or the worker. The worker’s own condition must not be covered by an employer’s short-term disability plan. Workers must meet state-set earnings or contribution rules and cannot receive full pay from their employer. Payments cannot begin until an independent analysis leads the state to find that projected contributions can cover projected benefits and program costs. Benefits could cover up to 12 weeks per benefit year for leave taken within 12 months of the qualifying event.

Covered employers would withhold worker contributions and send them to the leave fund. The deductions would apply to employees of employers in Indiana’s unemployment system. The initial contribution would be 0.5% of wages up to a cap. After an independent analysis, the state could adjust the rate. Weekly benefits would be based on 60% of average pay, capped at 50% to 60% of the state average weekly wage. The state could use a tiered formula within those limits.

Receiving program benefits would not add job protection beyond other laws. This applies to workers receiving program benefits and their covered employers. Employers could offer job protection voluntarily. Employers could adjust overlapping leave payments as their written policies and state rules allow.

Self-employed people could choose to join the program. This option covers people who work for themselves. They would have to send contributions to the fund at the program’s contribution rate. Their initial commitment would last at least three years.