SB 590: Paid family leave: eligibility: care for designated persons.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2025-10-13
Current Status:
Passed
(2025-10-13: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 772, Statutes of 2025.)
Introduced
In Committee
Awaiting First Chamber Vote
Passed First Chamber
In Committee
Awaiting Second Chamber Vote
Passed Second Chamber
Enacted
What does this bill do?
The bill expands California’s paid family leave so workers can get up to eight weeks of wage‑replacement benefits to care for a “designated person” — someone related by blood or whose relationship is the equivalent of family — who is seriously ill. It also requires first‑time claimants caring for a designated person to identify that person and sign a sworn statement about their relationship, subject to penalties for false statements.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
Existing unemployment compensation disability law requires workers to pay contribution rates based on, among other things, wages received in employment and benefit disbursement, for payment into the Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund, a special fund in the State Treasury. That fund is continuously appropriated for the purpose of providing disability benefits and making payment of expenses in administering those provisions.
Existing law establishes, within the above state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program, also known as the paid family leave program, for the provision of wage replacement benefits for up to 8 weeks to workers who take time off work for prescribed purposes, including to care for a seriously ill family member. Existing law defines terms for its purposes, including family care leave and family member.
This bill would, commencing July 1, 2028, expand eligibility for benefits under the paid family leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person. The bill would define designated person to mean any care recipient related by blood or whose association with the individual is the equivalent of a family relationship, and would make conforming changes to the definitions of the terms family care leave and family member.
This bill would require an individual that requests for the first time family temporary disability insurance benefits to care for a designated person to identify the designated person and, under penalty of perjury, attest to how the individual is related by blood to the designated person, or how the individuals association with the designated person is the equivalent of a family relationship. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
By authorizing expenditures from the continuously appropriated fund for these expanded purposes, this bill would make an appropriation.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing unemployment compensation disability law requires workers to pay contribution rates based on, among other things, wages received in employment and benefit disbursement, for payment into the Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund, a special fund in the State Treasury. That fund is continuously appropriated for the purpose of providing disability benefits and making payment of expenses in administering those provisions.
Existing law establishes, within the above state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program, also known as the paid family leave program, for the provision of wage replacement benefits for up to 8 weeks to workers who take time off work for prescribed purposes, including to care for a seriously ill family member. Existing law defines terms for its purposes, including family care leave and family member.
This bill would, commencing July 1, 2028, expand eligibility for benefits under the paid family leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person. The bill would define designated person to mean any care recipient related by blood or whose association with the individual is the equivalent of a family relationship, and would make conforming changes to the definitions of the terms family care leave and family member.
This bill would require an individual that requests for the first time family temporary disability insurance benefits to care for a designated person to identify the designated person and, under penalty of perjury, attest to how the individual is related by blood to the designated person, or how the individuals association with the designated person is the equivalent of a family relationship. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
By authorizing expenditures from the continuously appropriated fund for these expanded purposes, this bill would make an appropriation.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing unemployment compensation disability law requires workers to pay contribution rates based on, among other things, wages received in employment and benefit disbursement, for payment into the Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund, a special fund in the State Treasury. That fund is continuously appropriated for the purpose of providing disability benefits and making payment of expenses in administering those provisions.
Existing law establishes, within the above state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program, also known as the paid family leave program, for the provision of wage replacement benefits for up to 8 weeks to workers who take time off work for prescribed purposes, including to care for a seriously ill family member. Existing law defines terms for its purposes, including family care leave and family member.
This bill would, commencing July 1, 2027, 2028, expand eligibility for benefits under the paid family leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person. The bill would define designated person to mean any individual care recipient related by blood or whose association with the claimant individual is the equivalent of a family relationship. The bill would authorize the claimant to identify the designated person when they file a claim for benefits. The bill relationship, and would make conforming changes to the definitions of the terms family care leave and family member.
This bill would require an individual that requests for the first time family temporary disability insurance benefits to care for a designated person to identify the designated person and, under penalty of perjury, attest to how the individual is related by blood to the designated person, or how the individuals association with the designated person is the equivalent of a family relationship. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
By authorizing expenditures from the continuously appropriated fund for these expanded purposes, this bill would make an appropriation.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing unemployment compensation disability law requires workers to pay contribution rates based on, among other things, wages received in employment and benefit disbursement, for payment into the Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund, a special fund in the State Treasury. That fund is continuously appropriated for the purpose of providing disability benefits and making payment of expenses in administering those provisions.
Existing law establishes, within the above state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program, also known as the paid family leave program, for the provision of wage replacement benefits for up to 8 weeks to workers who take time off work for prescribed purposes, including to care for a seriously ill family member. Existing law defines terms for its purposes, including family care leave and family member.
This bill would, commencing July 1, 2027, expand eligibility for benefits under the paid family leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person. The bill would define designated person to mean any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee claimant is the equivalent of a family relationship. The bill would authorize the employee claimant to identify the designated person when they file a claim for benefits. The bill would make conforming changes to the definitions of the terms family care leave and family member.
By authorizing expenditures from the continuously appropriated fund for these expanded purposes, this bill would make an appropriation.
Existing unemployment compensation disability law requires workers to pay contribution rates based on, among other things, wages received in employment and benefit disbursement, for payment into the Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund, a special fund in the State Treasury. That fund is continuously appropriated for the purpose of providing disability benefits and making payment of expenses in administering those provisions.
Existing law establishes, within the above state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program, also known as the paid family leave program, for the provision of wage replacement benefits for up to 8 weeks to workers who take time off work for prescribed purposes, including to care for a seriously ill family member. Existing law defines terms for its purposes, including family care leave and family member.
This bill would, commencing July 1, 2027, expand eligibility for benefits under the paid family leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person. The bill would define designated person to mean any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship. The bill would authorize the employee to identify the designated person when they file a claim for benefits. The bill would make conforming changes to the definitions of the terms family care leave and family member.
By authorizing expenditures from the continuously appropriated fund for these expanded purposes, this bill would make an appropriation.
(a)(1)The purpose of this chapter is to establish, within the state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program. Family temporary disability insurance shall provide up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or domestic partner, to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or to participate in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abridge the rights and responsibilities conveyed under the California Family Rights Act or pregnancy disability leave.
(b)(1)An individuals weekly benefit amount for periods of disability commencing before January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in Section 2655, and for periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in paragraph (2). An individual is eligible to receive family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of the individuals weekly benefit amount for each full day during which the individual is unable to work due to caring for a seriously ill or injured family member, bonding with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)For periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the weekly benefit amount shall be as follows:
(A)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is less than seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50), then fifty dollars ($50).
(B)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is more than 70 percent of the state average quarterly wage, the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to the greater of 70 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code, or 63 percent of the state average weekly wage.
(C)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50) or more, but 70 percent or less than the state average quarterly wage, then the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to 90 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, state average weekly wage and state average quarterly wage have the same meanings as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 2655.
(c)The maximum amount payable to an individual during any disability benefit period for family temporary disability insurance shall be eight times the individuals weekly benefit amount, but in no case shall the total amount of benefits payable be more than the total wages paid to the individual during the individuals disability base period. If the benefit is not a multiple of one dollar ($1), it shall be computed to the next higher multiple of one dollar ($1).
(d)No more than eight weeks of family temporary disability insurance benefits shall be paid within any 12-month period.
(e)An individual shall file a claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits not later than the 41st consecutive day following the first compensable day with respect to which the claim is made for benefits, which time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause. If a first claim is not complete, the claim form shall be returned to the claimant for completion and it shall be completed and returned not later than the 10th consecutive day after the date it was mailed by the department to the claimant, except that such time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause.
(f)This section shall remain in effect only until Section 3301.5 is incorporated in the Employment Development Departments integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext project, and as of that date is repealed.
(g)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 2.Section 3301 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3301.(a)(1)The purpose of this chapter is to establish, within the state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program. Family temporary disability insurance shall provide up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, domestic partner, or designated person, to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or to participate in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abridge the rights and responsibilities conveyed under the California Family Rights Act or pregnancy disability leave.
(b)(1)An individuals weekly benefit amount for periods of disability commencing before January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in Section 2655, and for periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in paragraph (2). An individual is eligible to receive family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of the individuals weekly benefit amount for each full day during which the individual is unable to work due to caring for a seriously ill or injured family member, bonding with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)For periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the weekly benefit amount shall be as follows:
(A)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is less than seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50), then fifty dollars ($50).
(B)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is more than 70 percent of the state average quarterly wage, the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to the greater of 70 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code, or 63 percent of the state average weekly wage.
(C)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50) or more, but 70 percent or less than the state average quarterly wage, then the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to 90 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, state average weekly wage and state average quarterly wage have the same meanings as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 2655.
(c)The maximum amount payable to an individual during any disability benefit period for family temporary disability insurance shall be eight times the individuals weekly benefit amount, but in no case shall the total amount of benefits payable be more than the total wages paid to the individual during the individuals disability base period. If the benefit is not a multiple of one dollar ($1), it shall be computed to the next higher multiple of one dollar ($1).
(d)No more than eight weeks of family temporary disability insurance benefits shall be paid within any 12-month period.
(e)An individual shall file a claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits not later than the 41st consecutive day following the first compensable day with respect to which the claim is made for benefits, which time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause. If a first claim is not complete, the claim form shall be returned to the claimant for completion and it shall be completed and returned not later than the 10th consecutive day after the date it was mailed by the department to the claimant, except that such time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause.
(f)This section shall remain in effect only until Section 3301.5 is incorporated in the Employment Development Departments integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext project, and as of that date is repealed.
(g)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2028.
SEC. 3.Section 3302 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:3302.On and after July 1, 2014, for purposes of this part:
(a)Care recipient means the family member who is receiving care for a serious health condition or the new child with whom the care provider is bonding. For the purposes of a qualifying exigency as set forth in Section 3302.2, care recipient also includes the military member, or child or parent of the military member, who is receiving assistance, or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency.
(b)Care provider means the family member who is providing the required care for a serious health condition; the family member who is bonding with the new child; or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(c)Child means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or the person to whom the employee stands in loco parentis.
(d)Domestic partner has the same meaning as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.
(e)Family care leave means any of the following:
(1)Leave to bond with a minor child within the first year of the childs birth or placement in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)Leave to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner who has a serious health condition.
(3)Leave to participate in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(f)Family member means child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner as defined in this section.
(g)Grandchild means a child of the employees child.
(h)Grandparent means a parent of the employees parent.
(i)Military member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent of the employee, where the military member is on covered active duty or call to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 3302.1.
(j)Parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a parent-in-law, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or other person who stood in loco parentis to the employee when the employee was a child.
(k)Parent-in-law means the parent of a spouse or a domestic partner.
(l)Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility, or continuing treatment or continuing supervision by a health care provider, as defined in Section 12945.2 of the Government Code.
(m)Sibling means a person related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
(n)Spouse means a partner to a lawful marriage.
(o)Valid claim means any claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits made in accordance with the provisions of this code, and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder, if the individual claiming benefits is unemployed and has been paid the necessary wages in employment for employers to qualify for benefits under Section 2652 and is caring for a seriously ill family member, or bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(p)Twelve-month period, with respect to any individual, means the 365 consecutive days that begin with the first day the individual first establishes a valid claim for family temporary disability benefits.
(q)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.Section 3302 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3302.On and after July 1, 2028, for purposes of this part:
(a)Care recipient means the family member who is receiving care for a serious health condition or the new child with whom the care provider is bonding. For the purposes of a qualifying exigency as set forth in Section 3302.2, care recipient also includes the military member, or child or parent of the military member, who is receiving assistance, or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency.
(b)Care provider means the family member who is providing the required care for a serious health condition; the family member who is bonding with the new child; or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(c)Child means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or the person to whom the employee stands in loco parentis.
(d)Designated person means any care recipient related by blood or whose association with the individual is the equivalent of a family relationship.
(e)Domestic partner has the same meaning as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.
(f)Family care leave means any of the following:
(1)Leave to bond with a minor child within the first year of the childs birth or placement in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)Leave to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person who has a serious health condition.
(3)Leave to participate in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(g)Family member means a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person.
(h)Grandchild means a child of the employees child.
(i)Grandparent means a parent of the employees parent.
(j)Military member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent of the employee, where the military member is on covered active duty or call to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 3302.1.
(k)Parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a parent-in-law, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or other person who stood in loco parentis to the employee when the employee was a child.
(l)Parent-in-law means the parent of a spouse or a domestic partner.
(m)Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility, or continuing treatment or continuing supervision by a health care provider, as defined in Section 12945.2 of the Government Code.
(n)Sibling means a person related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
(o)Spouse means a partner to a lawful marriage.
(p)Valid claim means any claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits made in accordance with the provisions of this code, and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder, if the individual claiming benefits is unemployed and has been paid the necessary wages in employment for employers to qualify for benefits under Section 2652 and is caring for a seriously ill family member, or bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(q)Twelve-month period, with respect to any individual, means the 365 consecutive days that begin with the first day the individual first establishes a valid claim for family temporary disability benefits.
(r)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2028.
SEC. 5.Section 3303 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:3303.(a)On and after July 1, 2014, only if the director makes both of the findings described in subdivision (b), an individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of their weekly benefit amount on any day in which the individual is unable to perform their regular or customary work because of any of the following:
(1)The individual is bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)The individual is caring for a seriously ill child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner.
(3)The individual is participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(b)An individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits described in subdivision (a) only if the director finds both of the following:
(1)The individual has made a claim for temporary disability benefits as required by authorized regulations.
(2)The individual has filed a certificate, as required by Sections 2708 and 2709, or for purposes of participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States, has provided the information requested pursuant to Section 3307.
(c)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 6.Section 3303 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3303.(a)On and after July 1, 2028, only if the director makes both of the findings described in subdivision (b), an individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of their weekly benefit amount on any day in which the individual is unable to perform their regular or customary work because of any of the following:
(1)The individual is bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)(A)The individual is caring for a seriously ill child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person.
(B)When an individual requests for the first time family temporary disability insurance benefits to care for a designated person, the individual shall do both of the following:
(i)The individual shall identify the designated person.
(ii)The individual shall, under penalty of perjury, attest to either of the following:
(I)How the individual is related by blood to the designated person.
(II)How the individuals association with the designated person is the equivalent of a family relationship.
(3)The individual is participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(b)An individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits described in subdivision (a) only if the director finds both of the following:
(1)The individual has made a claim for temporary disability benefits as required by authorized regulations.
(2)The individual has filed a certificate, as required by Sections 2708 and 2709, or for purposes of participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States, has provided the information requested pursuant to Section 3307.
(c)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2028.
SEC. 7.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)(1)The purpose of this chapter is to establish, within the state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program. Family temporary disability insurance shall provide up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or domestic partner, to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or to participate in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abridge the rights and responsibilities conveyed under the California Family Rights Act or pregnancy disability leave.
(b)(1)An individuals weekly benefit amount for periods of disability commencing before January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in Section 2655, and for periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in paragraph (2). An individual is eligible to receive family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of the individuals weekly benefit amount for each full day during which the individual is unable to work due to caring for a seriously ill or injured family member, bonding with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)For periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the weekly benefit amount shall be as follows:
(A)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is less than seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50), then fifty dollars ($50).
(B)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is more than 70 percent of the state average quarterly wage, the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to the greater of 70 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code, or 63 percent of the state average weekly wage.
(C)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50) or more, but 70 percent or less than the state average quarterly wage, then the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to 90 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, state average weekly wage and state average quarterly wage have the same meanings as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 2655.
(c)The maximum amount payable to an individual during any disability benefit period for family temporary disability insurance shall be eight times the individuals weekly benefit amount, but in no case shall the total amount of benefits payable be more than the total wages paid to the individual during the individuals disability base period. If the benefit is not a multiple of one dollar ($1), it shall be computed to the next higher multiple of one dollar ($1).
(d)No more than eight weeks of family temporary disability insurance benefits shall be paid within any 12-month period.
(e)An individual shall file a claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits not later than the 41st consecutive day following the first compensable day with respect to which the claim is made for benefits, which time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause. If a first claim is not complete, the claim form shall be returned to the claimant for completion and it shall be completed and returned not later than the 10th consecutive day after the date it was mailed by the department to the claimant, except that such time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause.
(f)This section shall remain in effect only until Section 3301.5 is incorporated in the Employment Development Departments integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext project, and as of that date is repealed.
(g)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 2.Section 3301 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3301.(a)(1)The purpose of this chapter is to establish, within the state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program. Family temporary disability insurance shall provide up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, domestic partner, or designated person, to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or to participate in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abridge the rights and responsibilities conveyed under the California Family Rights Act or pregnancy disability leave.
(b)(1)An individuals weekly benefit amount for periods of disability commencing before January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in Section 2655, and for periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in paragraph (2). An individual is eligible to receive family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of the individuals weekly benefit amount for each full day during which the individual is unable to work due to caring for a seriously ill or injured family member, bonding with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)For periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the weekly benefit amount shall be as follows:
(A)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is less than seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50), then fifty dollars ($50).
(B)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is more than 70 percent of the state average quarterly wage, the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to the greater of 70 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code, or 63 percent of the state average weekly wage.
(C)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50) or more, but 70 percent or less than the state average quarterly wage, then the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to 90 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, state average weekly wage and state average quarterly wage have the same meanings as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 2655.
(c)The maximum amount payable to an individual during any disability benefit period for family temporary disability insurance shall be eight times the individuals weekly benefit amount, but in no case shall the total amount of benefits payable be more than the total wages paid to the individual during the individuals disability base period. If the benefit is not a multiple of one dollar ($1), it shall be computed to the next higher multiple of one dollar ($1).
(d)No more than eight weeks of family temporary disability insurance benefits shall be paid within any 12-month period.
(e)An individual shall file a claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits not later than the 41st consecutive day following the first compensable day with respect to which the claim is made for benefits, which time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause. If a first claim is not complete, the claim form shall be returned to the claimant for completion and it shall be completed and returned not later than the 10th consecutive day after the date it was mailed by the department to the claimant, except that such time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause.
(f)This section shall remain in effect only until Section 3301.5 is incorporated in the Employment Development Departments integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext project, and as of that date is repealed.
(g)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2028.
SEC. 3.Section 3302 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:3302.On and after July 1, 2014, for purposes of this part:
(a)Care recipient means the family member who is receiving care for a serious health condition or the new child with whom the care provider is bonding. For the purposes of a qualifying exigency as set forth in Section 3302.2, care recipient also includes the military member, or child or parent of the military member, who is receiving assistance, or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency.
(b)Care provider means the family member who is providing the required care for a serious health condition; the family member who is bonding with the new child; or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(c)Child means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or the person to whom the employee stands in loco parentis.
(d)Domestic partner has the same meaning as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.
(e)Family care leave means any of the following:
(1)Leave to bond with a minor child within the first year of the childs birth or placement in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)Leave to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner who has a serious health condition.
(3)Leave to participate in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(f)Family member means child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner as defined in this section.
(g)Grandchild means a child of the employees child.
(h)Grandparent means a parent of the employees parent.
(i)Military member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent of the employee, where the military member is on covered active duty or call to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 3302.1.
(j)Parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a parent-in-law, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or other person who stood in loco parentis to the employee when the employee was a child.
(k)Parent-in-law means the parent of a spouse or a domestic partner.
(l)Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility, or continuing treatment or continuing supervision by a health care provider, as defined in Section 12945.2 of the Government Code.
(m)Sibling means a person related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
(n)Spouse means a partner to a lawful marriage.
(o)Valid claim means any claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits made in accordance with the provisions of this code, and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder, if the individual claiming benefits is unemployed and has been paid the necessary wages in employment for employers to qualify for benefits under Section 2652 and is caring for a seriously ill family member, or bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(p)Twelve-month period, with respect to any individual, means the 365 consecutive days that begin with the first day the individual first establishes a valid claim for family temporary disability benefits.
(q)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.Section 3302 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3302.On and after July 1, 2028, for purposes of this part:
(a)Care recipient means the family member who is receiving care for a serious health condition or the new child with whom the care provider is bonding. For the purposes of a qualifying exigency as set forth in Section 3302.2, care recipient also includes the military member, or child or parent of the military member, who is receiving assistance, or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency.
(b)Care provider means the family member who is providing the required care for a serious health condition; the family member who is bonding with the new child; or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(c)Child means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or the person to whom the employee stands in loco parentis.
(d)Designated person means any care recipient related by blood or whose association with the individual is the equivalent of a family relationship.
(e)Domestic partner has the same meaning as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.
(f)Family care leave means any of the following:
(1)Leave to bond with a minor child within the first year of the childs birth or placement in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)Leave to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person who has a serious health condition.
(3)Leave to participate in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(g)Family member means a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person.
(h)Grandchild means a child of the employees child.
(i)Grandparent means a parent of the employees parent.
(j)Military member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent of the employee, where the military member is on covered active duty or call to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 3302.1.
(k)Parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a parent-in-law, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or other person who stood in loco parentis to the employee when the employee was a child.
(l)Parent-in-law means the parent of a spouse or a domestic partner.
(m)Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility, or continuing treatment or continuing supervision by a health care provider, as defined in Section 12945.2 of the Government Code.
(n)Sibling means a person related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
(o)Spouse means a partner to a lawful marriage.
(p)Valid claim means any claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits made in accordance with the provisions of this code, and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder, if the individual claiming benefits is unemployed and has been paid the necessary wages in employment for employers to qualify for benefits under Section 2652 and is caring for a seriously ill family member, or bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(q)Twelve-month period, with respect to any individual, means the 365 consecutive days that begin with the first day the individual first establishes a valid claim for family temporary disability benefits.
(r)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2028.
SEC. 5.Section 3303 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:3303.(a)On and after July 1, 2014, only if the director makes both of the findings described in subdivision (b), an individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of their weekly benefit amount on any day in which the individual is unable to perform their regular or customary work because of any of the following:
(1)The individual is bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)The individual is caring for a seriously ill child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner.
(3)The individual is participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(b)An individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits described in subdivision (a) only if the director finds both of the following:
(1)The individual has made a claim for temporary disability benefits as required by authorized regulations.
(2)The individual has filed a certificate, as required by Sections 2708 and 2709, or for purposes of participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States, has provided the information requested pursuant to Section 3307.
(c)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 6.Section 3303 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3303.(a)On and after July 1, 2028, only if the director makes both of the findings described in subdivision (b), an individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of their weekly benefit amount on any day in which the individual is unable to perform their regular or customary work because of any of the following:
(1)The individual is bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)(A)The individual is caring for a seriously ill child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person.
(B)When an individual requests for the first time family temporary disability insurance benefits to care for a designated person, the individual shall do both of the following:
(i)The individual shall identify the designated person.
(ii)The individual shall, under penalty of perjury, attest to either of the following:
(I)How the individual is related by blood to the designated person.
(II)How the individuals association with the designated person is the equivalent of a family relationship.
(3)The individual is participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(b)An individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits described in subdivision (a) only if the director finds both of the following:
(1)The individual has made a claim for temporary disability benefits as required by authorized regulations.
(2)The individual has filed a certificate, as required by Sections 2708 and 2709, or for purposes of participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States, has provided the information requested pursuant to Section 3307.
(c)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2028.
SEC. 7.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)(1)The purpose of this chapter is to establish, within the state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program. Family temporary disability insurance shall provide up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or domestic partner, to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or to participate in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abridge the rights and responsibilities conveyed under the CFRA California Family Rights Act or pregnancy disability leave.
(b)(1)An individuals weekly benefit amount for periods of disability commencing before January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in Section 2655, and for periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in paragraph (2). An individual is eligible to receive family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of the individuals weekly benefit amount for each full day during which the individual is unable to work due to caring for a seriously ill or injured family member, bonding with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)For periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the weekly benefit amount shall be as follows:
(A)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is less than seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50), then fifty dollars ($50).
(B)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is more than 70 percent of the state average quarterly wage, the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to the greater of 70 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code, or 63 percent of the state average weekly wage.
(C)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50) or more, but 70 percent or less than the state average quarterly wage, then the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to 90 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, state average weekly wage and state average quarterly wage have the same meanings as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 2655.
(c)The maximum amount payable to an individual during any disability benefit period for family temporary disability insurance shall be eight times the individuals weekly benefit amount, but in no case shall the total amount of benefits payable be more than the total wages paid to the individual during the individuals disability base period. If the benefit is not a multiple of one dollar ($1), it shall be computed to the next higher multiple of one dollar ($1).
(d)No more than eight weeks of family temporary disability insurance benefits shall be paid within any 12-month period.
(e)An individual shall file a claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits not later than the 41st consecutive day following the first compensable day with respect to which the claim is made for benefits, which time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause. If a first claim is not complete, the claim form shall be returned to the claimant for completion and it shall be completed and returned not later than the 10th consecutive day after the date it was mailed by the department to the claimant, except that such time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause.
(f)This section shall remain in effect only until Section 3301.5 is incorporated in the Employment Development Departments integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext project, and as of that date is repealed.
(g)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2027, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 2.Section 3301 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3301.(a)(1)The purpose of this chapter is to establish, within the state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program. Family temporary disability insurance shall provide up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, domestic partner, or designated person, to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or to participate in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abridge the rights and responsibilities conveyed under the CFRA California Family Rights Act or pregnancy disability leave.
(b)(1)An individuals weekly benefit amount for periods of disability commencing before January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in Section 2655, and for periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in paragraph (2). An individual is eligible to receive family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of the individuals weekly benefit amount for each full day during which the individual is unable to work due to caring for a seriously ill or injured family member, bonding with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)For periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the weekly benefit amount shall be as follows:
(A)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is less than seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50), then fifty dollars ($50).
(B)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is more than 70 percent of the state average quarterly wage, the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to the greater of 70 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code, or 63 percent of the state average weekly wage.
(C)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50) or more, but 70 percent or less than the state average quarterly wage, then the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to 90 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, state average weekly wage and state average quarterly wage have the same meanings as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 2655.
(c)The maximum amount payable to an individual during any disability benefit period for family temporary disability insurance shall be eight times the individuals weekly benefit amount, but in no case shall the total amount of benefits payable be more than the total wages paid to the individual during the individuals disability base period. If the benefit is not a multiple of one dollar ($1), it shall be computed to the next higher multiple of one dollar ($1).
(d)No more than eight weeks of family temporary disability insurance benefits shall be paid within any 12-month period.
(e)An individual shall file a claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits not later than the 41st consecutive day following the first compensable day with respect to which the claim is made for benefits, which time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause. If a first claim is not complete, the claim form shall be returned to the claimant for completion and it shall be completed and returned not later than the 10th consecutive day after the date it was mailed by the department to the claimant, except that such time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause.
(f)This section shall remain in effect only until Section 3301.5 is incorporated in the Employment Development Departments integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext project, and as of that date is repealed.
(g)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027. 2028.
SEC. 3.Section 3302 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:3302.On and after July 1, 2014, for purposes of this part:
(a)Care recipient means the family member who is receiving care for a serious health condition or the new child with whom the care provider is bonding. For the purposes of a qualifying exigency as set forth in Section 3302.2, care recipient also includes the military member, or child or parent of the military member, who is receiving assistance, or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency.
(b)Care provider means the family member who is providing the required care for a serious health condition; the family member who is bonding with the new child; or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(c)Child means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or the person to whom the employee stands in loco parentis.
(d)Domestic partner has the same meaning as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.
(e)Family care leave means any of the following:
(1)Leave to bond with a minor child within the first year of the childs birth or placement in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)Leave to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner who has a serious health condition.
(3)Leave to participate in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(f)Family member means child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner as defined in this section.
(g)Grandchild means a child of the employees child.
(h)Grandparent means a parent of the employees parent.
(i)Military member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent of the employee, where the military member is on covered active duty or call to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 3302.1.
(j)Parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a parent-in-law, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or other person who stood in loco parentis to the employee when the employee was a child.
(k)Parent-in-law means the parent of a spouse or a domestic partner.
(l)Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility, or continuing treatment or continuing supervision by a health care provider, as defined in Section 12945.2 of the Government Code.
(m)Sibling means a person related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
(n)Spouse means a partner to a lawful marriage.
(o)Valid claim means any claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits made in accordance with the provisions of this code, and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder, if the individual claiming benefits is unemployed and has been paid the necessary wages in employment for employers to qualify for benefits under Section 2652 and is caring for a seriously ill family member, or bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(p)Twelve-month period, with respect to any individual, means the 365 consecutive days that begin with the first day the individual first establishes a valid claim for family temporary disability benefits.
(q)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2027, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.Section 3302 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3302.On and after July 1, 2027, 2028, for purposes of this part:
(a)Care recipient means the family member who is receiving care for a serious health condition or the new child with whom the care provider is bonding. For the purposes of a qualifying exigency as set forth in Section 3302.2, care recipient also includes the military member, or child or parent of the military member, who is receiving assistance, or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency.
(b)Care provider means the family member who is providing the required care for a serious health condition; the family member who is bonding with the new child; or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(c)Child means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or the person to whom the employee stands in loco parentis.
(d)Designated person means any individual care recipient related by blood or whose association with the claimant individual is the equivalent of a family relationship. The designated person may be identified by the claimant when they file a claim for benefits.
(e)Domestic partner has the same meaning as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.
(f)Family care leave means any of the following:
(1)Leave to bond with a minor child within the first year of the childs birth or placement in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)Leave to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person who has a serious health condition.
(3)Leave to participate in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(g)Family member means a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person.
(h)Grandchild means a child of the employees child.
(i)Grandparent means a parent of the employees parent.
(j)Military member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent of the employee, where the military member is on covered active duty or call to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 3302.1.
(k)Parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a parent-in-law, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or other person who stood in loco parentis to the employee when the employee was a child.
(l)Parent-in-law means the parent of a spouse or a domestic partner.
(m)Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility, or continuing treatment or continuing supervision by a health care provider, as defined in Section 12945.2 of the Government Code.
(n)Sibling means a person related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
(o)Spouse means a partner to a lawful marriage.
(p)Valid claim means any claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits made in accordance with the provisions of this code, and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder, if the individual claiming benefits is unemployed and has been paid the necessary wages in employment for employers to qualify for benefits under Section 2652 and is caring for a seriously ill family member, or bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(q)Twelve-month period, with respect to any individual, means the 365 consecutive days that begin with the first day the individual first establishes a valid claim for family temporary disability benefits.
(r)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027. 2028.
SEC. 5.Section 3303 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:3303.(a)On and after July 1, 2014, only if the director makes both of the findings described in subdivision (b), an individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of their weekly benefit amount on any day in which the individual is unable to perform their regular or customary work because of any of the following:
(1)The individual is bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)The individual is caring for a seriously ill child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner.
(3)The individual is participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(b)An individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits described in subdivision (a) only if the director finds both of the following:
(1)The individual has made a claim for temporary disability benefits as required by authorized regulations.
(2)The individual has filed a certificate, as required by Sections 2708 and 2709, or for purposes of participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States, has provided the information requested pursuant to Section 3307.
(c)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2027, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 6.Section 3303 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3303.(a)On and after July 1, 2027, 2028, only if the director makes both of the findings described in subdivision (b), an individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of their weekly benefit amount on any day in which the individual is unable to perform their regular or customary work because of any of the following:
(1)The individual is bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)(A)The individual is caring for a seriously ill child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person.
(B)When an individual requests for the first time family temporary disability insurance benefits to care for a designated person, the individual shall do both of the following:
(i)The individual shall identify the designated person.
(ii)The individual shall, under penalty of perjury, attest to either of the following:
(I)How the individual is related by blood to the designated person.
(II)How the individuals association with the designated person is the equivalent of a family relationship.
(3)The individual is participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(b)An individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits described in subdivision (a) only if the director finds both of the following:
(1)The individual has made a claim for temporary disability benefits as required by authorized regulations.
(2)The individual has filed a certificate, as required by Sections 2708 and 2709, or for purposes of participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States, has provided the information requested pursuant to Section 3307.
(c)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027. 2028.
SEC. 7.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)(1)The purpose of this chapter is to establish, within the state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program. Family temporary disability insurance shall provide up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or domestic partner, to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or to participate in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abridge the rights and responsibilities conveyed under the CFRA or pregnancy disability leave.
(b)(1)An individuals weekly benefit amount for periods of disability commencing before January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in Section 2655, and for periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in paragraph (2). An individual is eligible to receive family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of the individuals weekly benefit amount for each full day during which the individual is unable to work due to caring for a seriously ill or injured family member, bonding with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)For periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the weekly benefit amount shall be as follows:
(A)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is less than seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50), then fifty dollars ($50).
(B)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is more than 70 percent of the state average quarterly wage, the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to the greater of 70 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code, or 63 percent of the state average weekly wage.
(C)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50) or more, but 70 percent or less than the state average quarterly wage, then the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to 90 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, state average weekly wage and state average quarterly wage have the same meanings as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 2655.
(c)The maximum amount payable to an individual during any disability benefit period for family temporary disability insurance shall be eight times the individuals weekly benefit amount, but in no case shall the total amount of benefits payable be more than the total wages paid to the individual during the individuals disability base period. If the benefit is not a multiple of one dollar ($1), it shall be computed to the next higher multiple of one dollar ($1).
(d)No more than eight weeks of family temporary disability insurance benefits shall be paid within any 12-month period.
(e)An individual shall file a claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits not later than the 41st consecutive day following the first compensable day with respect to which the claim is made for benefits, which time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause. If a first claim is not complete, the claim form shall be returned to the claimant for completion and it shall be completed and returned not later than the 10th consecutive day after the date it was mailed by the department to the claimant, except that such time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause.
(f)This section shall remain in effect only until Section 3301.5 is incorporated in the Employment Development Departments integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext project, and as of that date is repealed.
(g)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 2.Section 3301 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3301.(a)(1)The purpose of this chapter is to establish, within the state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program. Family temporary disability insurance shall provide up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, domestic partner, or designated person person, to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or to participate in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abridge the rights and responsibilities conveyed under the CFRA or pregnancy disability leave.
(b)(1)An individuals weekly benefit amount for periods of disability commencing before January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in Section 2655, and for periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in paragraph (2). An individual is eligible to receive family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of the individuals weekly benefit amount for each full day during which the individual is unable to work due to caring for a seriously ill or injured family member, bonding with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)For periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the weekly benefit amount shall be as follows:
(A)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is less than seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50), then fifty dollars ($50).
(B)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is more than 70 percent of the state average quarterly wage, the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to the greater of 70 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code, or 63 percent of the state average weekly wage.
(C)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50) or more, but 70 percent or less than the state average quarterly wage, then the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to 90 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, state average weekly wage and state average quarterly wage have the same meanings as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 2655.
(c)The maximum amount payable to an individual during any disability benefit period for family temporary disability insurance shall be eight times the individuals weekly benefit amount, but in no case shall the total amount of benefits payable be more than the total wages paid to the individual during the individuals disability base period. If the benefit is not a multiple of one dollar ($1), it shall be computed to the next higher multiple of one dollar ($1).
(d)No more than eight weeks of family temporary disability insurance benefits shall be paid within any 12-month period.
(e)An individual shall file a claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits not later than the 41st consecutive day following the first compensable day with respect to which the claim is made for benefits, which time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause. If a first claim is not complete, the claim form shall be returned to the claimant for completion and it shall be completed and returned not later than the 10th consecutive day after the date it was mailed by the department to the claimant, except that such time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause.
(f)This section shall remain in effect only until Section 3301.5 is incorporated in the Employment Development Departments integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext project, and as of that date is repealed.
(g)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027.
SEC. 3.Section 3302 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:3302.On and after July 1, 2014, for purposes of this part:
(a)Care recipient means the family member who is receiving care for a serious health condition or the new child with whom the care provider is bonding. For the purposes of a qualifying exigency as set forth in Section 3302.2, care recipient also includes the military member, or child or parent of the military member, who is receiving assistance, or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency.
(b)Care provider means the family member who is providing the required care for a serious health condition; the family member who is bonding with the new child; or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(c)Child means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or the person to whom the employee stands in loco parentis.
(d)Domestic partner has the same meaning as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.
(e)Family care leave means any of the following:
(1)Leave to bond with a minor child within the first year of the childs birth or placement in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)Leave to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner who has a serious health condition.
(3)Leave to participate in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(f)Family member means child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner as defined in this section.
(g)Grandchild means a child of the employees child.
(h)Grandparent means a parent of the employees parent.
(i)Military member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent of the employee, where the military member is on covered active duty or call to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 3302.1.
(j)Parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a parent-in-law, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or other person who stood in loco parentis to the employee when the employee was a child.
(k)Parent-in-law means the parent of a spouse or a domestic partner.
(l)Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility, or continuing treatment or continuing supervision by a health care provider, as defined in Section 12945.2 of the Government Code.
(m)Sibling means a person related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
(n)Spouse means a partner to a lawful marriage.
(o)Valid claim means any claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits made in accordance with the provisions of this code, and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder, if the individual claiming benefits is unemployed and has been paid the necessary wages in employment for employers to qualify for benefits under Section 2652 and is caring for a seriously ill family member, or bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(p)Twelve-month period, with respect to any individual, means the 365 consecutive days that begin with the first day the individual first establishes a valid claim for family temporary disability benefits.
(q)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.Section 3302 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3302.On and after July 1, 2027, for purposes of this part:
(a)Care recipient means the family member who is receiving care for a serious health condition or the new child with whom the care provider is bonding. For the purposes of a qualifying exigency as set forth in Section 3302.2, care recipient also includes the military member, or child or parent of the military member, who is receiving assistance, or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency.
(b)Care provider means the family member who is providing the required care for a serious health condition; the family member who is bonding with the new child; or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(c)Child means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or the person to whom the employee stands in loco parentis.
(d)Designated person means any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee claimant is the equivalent of a family relationship. The designated person may be identified by the employee claimant when they file a claim for benefits.
(e)Domestic partner has the same meaning as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.
(f)Family care leave means any of the following:
(1)Leave to bond with a minor child within the first year of the childs birth or placement in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)Leave to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person who has a serious health condition.
(3)Leave to participate in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(g)Family member means a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person.
(h)Grandchild means a child of the employees child.
(i)Grandparent means a parent of the employees parent.
(j)Military member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent of the employee, where the military member is on covered active duty or call to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 3302.1.
(k)Parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a parent-in-law, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or other person who stood in loco parentis to the employee when the employee was a child.
(l)Parent-in-law means the parent of a spouse or a domestic partner.
(m)Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility, or continuing treatment or continuing supervision by a health care provider, as defined in Section 12945.2 of the Government Code.
(n)Sibling means a person related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
(o)Spouse means a partner to a lawful marriage.
(p)Valid claim means any claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits made in accordance with the provisions of this code, and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder, if the individual claiming benefits is unemployed and has been paid the necessary wages in employment for employers to qualify for benefits under Section 2652 and is caring for a seriously ill family member, or bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(q)Twelve-month period, with respect to any individual, means the 365 consecutive days that begin with the first day the individual first establishes a valid claim for family temporary disability benefits.
(r)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027.
SEC. 5.Section 3303 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:3303.(a)On and after July 1, 2014, only if the director makes both of the findings described in subdivision (b), an individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of their weekly benefit amount on any day in which the individual is unable to perform their regular or customary work because of any of the following:
(1)The individual is bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)The individual is caring for a seriously ill child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner.
(3)The individual is participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(b)An individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits described in subdivision (a) only if the director finds both of the following:
(1)The individual has made a claim for temporary disability benefits as required by authorized regulations.
(2)The individual has filed a certificate, as required by Sections 2708 and 2709, or for purposes of participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States, has provided the information requested pursuant to Section 3307.
(c)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 6.Section 3303 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3303.(a)On and after July 1, 2027, only if the director makes both of the findings described in subdivision (b), an individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of their weekly benefit amount on any day in which the individual is unable to perform their regular or customary work because of any of the following:
(1)The individual is bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)The individual is caring for a seriously ill child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person.
(3)The individual is participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(b)An individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits described in subdivision (a) only if the director finds both of the following:
(1)The individual has made a claim for temporary disability benefits as required by authorized regulations.
(2)The individual has filed a certificate, as required by Sections 2708 and 2709, or for purposes of participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States, has provided the information requested pursuant to Section 3307.
(c)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027.
REVISIONS: HeadingLine 3.(a)(1)The purpose of this chapter is to establish, within the state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program. Family temporary disability insurance shall provide up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or domestic partner, to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or to participate in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abridge the rights and responsibilities conveyed under the CFRA or pregnancy disability leave.
(b)(1)An individuals weekly benefit amount for periods of disability commencing before January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in Section 2655, and for periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in paragraph (2). An individual is eligible to receive family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of the individuals weekly benefit amount for each full day during which the individual is unable to work due to caring for a seriously ill or injured family member, bonding with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)For periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the weekly benefit amount shall be as follows:
(A)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is less than seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50), then fifty dollars ($50).
(B)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is more than 70 percent of the state average quarterly wage, the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to the greater of 70 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code, or 63 percent of the state average weekly wage.
(C)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50) or more, but 70 percent or less than the state average quarterly wage, then the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to 90 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, state average weekly wage and state average quarterly wage have the same meanings as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 2655.
(c)The maximum amount payable to an individual during any disability benefit period for family temporary disability insurance shall be eight times the individuals weekly benefit amount, but in no case shall the total amount of benefits payable be more than the total wages paid to the individual during the individuals disability base period. If the benefit is not a multiple of one dollar ($1), it shall be computed to the next higher multiple of one dollar ($1).
(d)No more than eight weeks of family temporary disability insurance benefits shall be paid within any 12-month period.
(e)An individual shall file a claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits not later than the 41st consecutive day following the first compensable day with respect to which the claim is made for benefits, which time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause. If a first claim is not complete, the claim form shall be returned to the claimant for completion and it shall be completed and returned not later than the 10th consecutive day after the date it was mailed by the department to the claimant, except that such time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause.
(f)This section shall remain in effect only until Section 3301.5 is incorporated in the Employment Development Departments integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext project, and as of that date is repealed.
(g)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 2.Section 3301 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3301.(a)(1)The purpose of this chapter is to establish, within the state disability insurance program, a family temporary disability insurance program. Family temporary disability insurance shall provide up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, domestic partner, or designated person to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or to participate in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abridge the rights and responsibilities conveyed under the CFRA or pregnancy disability leave.
(b)(1)An individuals weekly benefit amount for periods of disability commencing before January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in Section 2655, and for periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, shall be the amount provided in paragraph (2). An individual is eligible to receive family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of the individuals weekly benefit amount for each full day during which the individual is unable to work due to caring for a seriously ill or injured family member, bonding with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption, or participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2)For periods of disability commencing on or after January 1, 2025, the weekly benefit amount shall be as follows:
(A)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is less than seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50), then fifty dollars ($50).
(B)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is more than 70 percent of the state average quarterly wage, the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to the greater of 70 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code, or 63 percent of the state average weekly wage.
(C)When the amount of wages paid to the individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest is seven hundred twenty-two dollars and fifty cents ($722.50) or more, but 70 percent or less than the state average quarterly wage, then the weekly benefit amount shall be equal to 90 percent of the wages paid to an individual for employment by employers during the quarter of the individuals disability base period in which these wages were highest, divided by 13, but not exceeding the maximum workers compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 4453 of the Labor Code.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, state average weekly wage and state average quarterly wage have the same meanings as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 2655.
(c)The maximum amount payable to an individual during any disability benefit period for family temporary disability insurance shall be eight times the individuals weekly benefit amount, but in no case shall the total amount of benefits payable be more than the total wages paid to the individual during the individuals disability base period. If the benefit is not a multiple of one dollar ($1), it shall be computed to the next higher multiple of one dollar ($1).
(d)No more than eight weeks of family temporary disability insurance benefits shall be paid within any 12-month period.
(e)An individual shall file a claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits not later than the 41st consecutive day following the first compensable day with respect to which the claim is made for benefits, which time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause. If a first claim is not complete, the claim form shall be returned to the claimant for completion and it shall be completed and returned not later than the 10th consecutive day after the date it was mailed by the department to the claimant, except that such time shall be extended by the department upon a showing of good cause.
(f)This section shall remain in effect only until Section 3301.5 is incorporated in the Employment Development Departments integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext project, and as of that date is repealed.
(g)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027.
SEC. 3.Section 3302 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:3302.On and after July 1, 2014, for purposes of this part:
(a)Care recipient means the family member who is receiving care for a serious health condition or the new child with whom the care provider is bonding. For the purposes of a qualifying exigency as set forth in Section 3302.2, care recipient also includes the military member, or child or parent of the military member, who is receiving assistance, or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency.
(b)Care provider means the family member who is providing the required care for a serious health condition; the family member who is bonding with the new child; or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(c)Child means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or the person to whom the employee stands in loco parentis.
(d)Domestic partner has the same meaning as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.
(e)Family care leave means any of the following:
(1)Leave to bond with a minor child within the first year of the childs birth or placement in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)Leave to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner who has a serious health condition.
(3)Leave to participate in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(f)Family member means child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner as defined in this section.
(g)Grandchild means a child of the employees child.
(h)Grandparent means a parent of the employees parent.
(i)Military member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent of the employee, where the military member is on covered active duty or call to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 3302.1.
(j)Parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a parent-in-law, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or other person who stood in loco parentis to the employee when the employee was a child.
(k)Parent-in-law means the parent of a spouse or a domestic partner.
(l)Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility, or continuing treatment or continuing supervision by a health care provider, as defined in Section 12945.2 of the Government Code.
(m)Sibling means a person related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
(n)Spouse means a partner to a lawful marriage.
(o)Valid claim means any claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits made in accordance with the provisions of this code, and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder, if the individual claiming benefits is unemployed and has been paid the necessary wages in employment for employers to qualify for benefits under Section 2652 and is caring for a seriously ill family member, or bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(p)Twelve-month period, with respect to any individual, means the 365 consecutive days that begin with the first day the individual first establishes a valid claim for family temporary disability benefits.
(q)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 4.Section 3302 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3302.On and after July 1, 2027, for purposes of this part:
(a)Care recipient means the family member who is receiving care for a serious health condition or the new child with whom the care provider is bonding. For the purposes of a qualifying exigency as set forth in Section 3302.2, care recipient also includes the military member, or child or parent of the military member, who is receiving assistance, or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency.
(b)Care provider means the family member who is providing the required care for a serious health condition; the family member who is bonding with the new child; or the employee who is participating in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(c)Child means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or the person to whom the employee stands in loco parentis.
(d)Designated person means any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship. The designated person may be identified by the employee when they file a claim for benefits.
(e)Domestic partner has the same meaning as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code.
(f)Family care leave means any of the following:
(1)Leave to bond with a minor child within the first year of the childs birth or placement in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)Leave to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person who has a serious health condition.
(3)Leave to participate in a qualifying exigency as provided in Section 3302.2.
(g)Family member means a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person.
(h)Grandchild means a child of the employees child.
(i)Grandparent means a parent of the employees parent.
(j)Military member means a child, spouse, domestic partner, or parent of the employee, where the military member is on covered active duty or call to active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 3302.1.
(k)Parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a parent-in-law, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or other person who stood in loco parentis to the employee when the employee was a child.
(l)Parent-in-law means the parent of a spouse or a domestic partner.
(m)Serious health condition means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility, or continuing treatment or continuing supervision by a health care provider, as defined in Section 12945.2 of the Government Code.
(n)Sibling means a person related to another person by blood, adoption, or affinity through a common legal or biological parent.
(o)Spouse means a partner to a lawful marriage.
(p)Valid claim means any claim for family temporary disability insurance benefits made in accordance with the provisions of this code, and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder, if the individual claiming benefits is unemployed and has been paid the necessary wages in employment for employers to qualify for benefits under Section 2652 and is caring for a seriously ill family member, or bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(q)Twelve-month period, with respect to any individual, means the 365 consecutive days that begin with the first day the individual first establishes a valid claim for family temporary disability benefits.
(r)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027.
SEC. 5.Section 3303 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is amended to read:3303.(a)On and after July 1, 2014, only if the director makes both of the findings described in subdivision (b), an individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of his or her their weekly benefit amount on any day in which he or she the individual is unable to perform his or her their regular or customary work because of any of the following:
(1)The individual is bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)The individual is caring for a seriously ill child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner.
(3)The individual is participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(b)An individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits described in subdivision (a) only if the directors director finds both of the following:
(1)The individual has made a claim for temporary disability benefits as required by authorized regulations.
(2)The individual has filed a certificate, as required by Sections 2708 and 2709, or for purposes of participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States, has provided the information requested pursuant to Section 3307.
(c)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2021.(c)This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 6.Section 3303 is added to the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:3303.(a)On and after July 1, 2027, only if the director makes both of the findings described in subdivision (b), an individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits equal to one-seventh of their weekly benefit amount on any day in which the individual is unable to perform their regular or customary work because of any of the following:
(1)The individual is bonding with a minor child during the first year after the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
(2)The individual is caring for a seriously ill child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, or designated person.
(3)The individual is participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(b)An individual shall be deemed eligible for family temporary disability insurance benefits described in subdivision (a) only if the director finds both of the following:
(1)The individual has made a claim for temporary disability benefits as required by authorized regulations.
(2)The individual has filed a certificate, as required by Sections 2708 and 2709, or for purposes of participating in a qualifying exigency related to the covered active duty or call to covered active duty of the individuals spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the Armed Forces of the United States, has provided the information requested pursuant to Section 3307.
(c)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2027.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2025 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 772, Statutes of 2025. |
| Oct 13, 2025 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep 22, 2025 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m. |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2831.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Sep 9, 2025 | In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending. |
| Sep 9, 2025 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 3076.) Ordered to the Senate. |
| Sep 4, 2025 | Read third time and amended. |
| Sep 4, 2025 | Ordered to third reading. |
| Sep 2, 2025 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Aug 29, 2025 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 1.) (August 29). |
| Aug 20, 2025 | August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Jul 9, 2025 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jul 9, 2025 | Coauthors revised. |
| Jun 5, 2025 | Referred to Com. on INS. |
| May 28, 2025 | In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. |
| May 28, 2025 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1302.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| May 23, 2025 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| May 23, 2025 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1205.) (May 23). |
| May 16, 2025 | Set for hearing May 23. |
| Apr 21, 2025 | April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr 10, 2025 | Set for hearing April 21. |
| Apr 9, 2025 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 739.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 3, 2025 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R. |
| Apr 1, 2025 | Set for hearing April 9. |
| Mar 5, 2025 | Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R. |
| Feb 21, 2025 | From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23. |
| Feb 20, 2025 | Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2025 | Unfinished Business SB590 Durazo et al. Concurrence | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Sep 9, 2025 | SB 590 Durazo Senate Third Reading By Wicks | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 29, 2025 | Do pass. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jul 9, 2025 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance |
Passed |
|
| May 28, 2025 | Senate 3rd Reading SB590 Durazo et al. | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 23, 2025 | Do pass | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 21, 2025 | Placed on suspense file | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 9, 2025 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Senate Standing Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| A Better Balance | ** Support | |
| AARP | ** Support | |
| AARP (Co-source) | ** Support | |
| AAUW California | ** Support | |
| Access Reproductive Justice | ** Support | |
| Aclu California Action | ** Support | |
| Alliance Of Californians For Community Empowerment | ** Support | |
| Alzheimer's Association California | ** Support | |
| Alzheimer's Los Angeles | ** Support | |
| alzheimer's orange county | ** Support | |
| Alzheimer'S San Diego | ** Support | |
| AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS & GYNECOLOGISTS - DISTRICT IX | ** Support | |
| American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees | ** Support | |
| Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus | ** Support | |
| Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California | ** Support | |
| Asian Law Alliance | ** Support | |
| Asian Law Caucus | ** Support | |
| Association of California Caregiver Resource Centers | ** Support | |
| Black Women For Wellness Action Project | ** Support | |
| BreastfeedLA | ** Support | |
| California Alliance For Retired Americans | ** Support | |
| California Black Chamber of Commerce | ** Support | |
| California Breastfeeding Coalition | ** Support | |
| California Child Care Resource and Referral Network | ** Support | |
| California Coalition on Family Caregiving | ** Support | |
| California Collaborative for Long-Term Services and Supports | ** Support | |
| California Commission on Aging | ** Support | |
| California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls | ** Support | |
| California Domestic Workers Coalition | ** Support | |
| California Employment Lawyers Association (Co-source) | ** Support | |
| California Federation Business and Professional Women | ** Support | |
| California Federation of Business and Professional Women | ** Support | |
| California Federation of Labor Unions, Afl-cio | ** Support | |
| California Immigrant Policy Center | ** Support | |
| California Latinas for Reproductive Justice | ** Support | |
| California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus | ** Support | |
| California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network | ** Support | |
| California Native Vote Project | ** Support | |
| California Pan-Ethnic Health Network | ** Support | |
| California Partnership To End Domestic Violence | ** Support | |
| California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation | ** Support | |
| California Senior Legislature | ** Support | |
| California Teamsters Public Affairs Council | ** Support | |
| California Wic Association | ** Support | |
| California Women Lawyers | ** Support | |
| California Women's Law Center | ** Support | |
| California Work & Family Coalition | ** Support | |
| California Work & Family Coalition (Co-source) | ** Support | |
| Californians for Safety and Justice | ** Support | |
| CAMEO Network | ** Support | |
| Caring Across Generations | ** Support | |
| Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice | ** Support | |
| Center for Law and Social Policy | ** Support | |
| Central Valley Gender Health & Wellness | ** Support | |
| Centro Legal de la Raza | ** Support | |
| Child Care Law Center | ** Support | |
| Children's advocacy groups | ** Support | |
| Citizens for Choice | ** Support | |
| Colage | ** Support | |
| Consumer Attorneys Of California | ** Support | |
| Courage California | ** Support | |
| End Child Poverty California Powered by Grace | ** Support | |
| Equal Rights Advocates | ** Support | |
| Equal Rights Advocates (Co-source) | ** Support | |
| Equality California (co-source) | ** Support | |
| evolve california | ** Support | |
| Family Caregiver Alliance | ** Support | |
| Family Values @ Work | ** Support | |
| Family Violence Appellate Project | ** Support | |
| First 5 Association Of California | ** Support | |
| First 5 California | ** Support | |
| Food Empowerment Project | ** Support | |
| Friends Committee On Legislation Of California | ** Support | |
| Fund Her | ** Support | |
| Futures Without Violence | ** Support | |
| GRACE - End Child Poverty in California | ** Support | |
| Health in Partnership | ** Support | |
| Human Impact Partners | ** Support | |
| Immigrant rights groups | ** Support | |
| Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de California | ** Support | |
| Insure the Uninsured Project | ** Support | |
| Itsyourleave California Parental Leave Consulting | ** Support | |
| Jewish Center for Justice | ** Support | |
| Jtmw LLC | ** Support | |
| Justice in Aging | ** Support | |
| LA Best Babies Network | ** Support | |
| Labor groups | ** Support | |
| Leeza's Care Connection | ** Support | |
| Legal Aid At Work | ** Support | |
| Legal Aid at Work (Co-source) | ** Support | |
| Legal groups | ** Support | |
| Legal Link | ** Support | |
| LGBTQ+ rights groups | ** Support | |
| Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy | ** Support | |
| Lutheran Office Of Public Policy - California | ** Support | |
| MicroEnterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California | ** Support | |
| Mujeres Unidas Y Activas | ** Support | |
| National Association Of Social Workers, California Chapter | ** Support | |
| National Council of Jewish Women CA | ** Support | |
| National Council Of Jewish Women Los Angeles | ** Support | |
| National Council of Jewish Women, CA | ** Support | |
| National Domestic Workers Alliance | ** Support | |
| National Women's Political Caucus of California | ** Support | |
| Nourishing Justly | ** Support | |
| Oasis Legal Services | ** Support | |
| Orange County Equality Coalition | ** Support | |
| Our Family Coalition | ** Support | |
| Pacific Community Ventures | ** Support | |
| Parent Voices California | ** Support | |
| Poder Latinx | ** Support | |
| Prevention Institute | ** Support | |
| Public Counsel | ** Support | |
| Reproductive Freedom for All California | ** Support | |
| Rising Communities | ** Support | |
| Rising Communities (formerly Community Health Councils) | ** Support | |
| Rising Communities formerly Community Health Councils | ** Support | |
| Sacramento LGBT Community Center | ** Support | |
| San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition | ** Support | |
| Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee | ** Support | |
| Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition | ** Support | |
| SEIU California | ** Support | |
| Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County | ** Support | |
| Small business groups | ** Support | |
| Small Business Majority | ** Support | |
| Social justice and civil liberties groups | ** Support | |
| Somos Familia Valle | ** Support | |
| Techequity Action | ** Support | |
| Thai Community Development Center | ** Support | |
| The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity | ** Support | |
| The Gala Pride & Diversity Center | ** Support | |
| The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert | ** Support | |
| The Restaurant Opportunity Center of The Bay | ** Support | |
| The Women's Employment Rights Clinic (WERC) At GGU | ** Support | |
| UAW Region 6 | ** Support | |
| Unite-LA | ** Support | |
| United Food And Commercial Workers Western States Council | ** Support | |
| Universidad Popular | ** Support | |
| Warehouse Worker Resource Center | ** Support | |
| Watsonville Law Center | ** Support | |
| Western Center on Law & Poverty, INC. | ** Support | |
| Women Organized to Make Abuse Non-existent | ** Support | |
| Women Organized to Make Abuse Nonexistent (WOMAN Inc.) | ** Support | |
| Women's Employment Right's Clinic of Golden Gate University | ** Support | |
| Women'S Foundation California | ** Support | |
| Women’s Employment Rights Clinic | ** Support | |
| Working Partnerships USA | ** Support | |
| Worksafe | ** Support |
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | SB 590 |
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 590
Author: Durazo (D), et al.
Amended: 9/4/25
Vote: 21
SENATE LABOR, PUB. EMP. & RET. COMMITTEE: 5-0, 4/9/25
AYES: Smallwood-Cuevas, Strickland, Cortese, Durazo, Laird
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 5/23/25
AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab
NO VOTE RECORDED: Dahle
SENATE FLOOR: 38-0, 5/28/25
AYES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
NO VOTE RECORDED: Limón, Reyes
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 76-0, 9/9/25 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Paid family leave: eligibility: care for designated persons
SOURCE: AARP
California Employment Lawyers Association
California Work & Family Coalition
Equality California
Equal Rights Advocates
Legal Aid at Work
DIGEST:
This bill expands, commencing on July 1, 2028, eligibility for benefits under the Paid Family Leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person, as defined.
Assembly Amendments
1) delayed the operative date on these changes from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028; and 2) added provisions requiring the individual to identify the designated person when seeking to take the leave and, under penalty of perjury, attest to how the individual is related by blood or the equivalent to a family relationship.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Establishes the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program as a partial wage-replacement plan funded through employee payroll deductions that is available (through the Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave programs (PFL)) to eligible individuals who are unable to work due to sickness or injury of the employee (including pregnancy), the sickness or injury of a family member, or the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a new child. (Unemployment Insurance Code §2601-3308)
- Under the PFL program, provides eligible employees up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits within a 12-month period to worker who need to take time off work for the following reasons:
- To care for a seriously ill family member, as defined;
- To bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption;
- To participate in a qualifying event because of a family member’s military deployment.
(Unemployment Insurance Code §3301)
- PFL defines “family member” to mean a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner. (Unemployment Insurance Code §3302)
This bill:
- Expands eligibility, commencing July 1, 2028, for benefits under the Paid Family Leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person.
- Defines “designated person” to mean any care recipient related by blood or whose association with the individual is the equivalent of a family relationship.
- Specifies that when an individual requests PFL benefits for the first time to care for a designated person, the individual shall do both of the following:
- Identify the designated person.
- Under penalty of perjury, attest to either of the following:
- How the individual is related by blood to the designated person.
- How the individual’s association with the designated person is the equivalent of a family relationship.
- Makes conforming changes to incorporate the designated person eligibility and makes other technical gender non-conforming changes to existing provisions.
Background
Paid Family Leave Program. In 2004, California was the first state in the nation to implement a Paid Family Leave program (administered as part of State Disability Insurance program) that provides benefits to workers who need to take time off to care for a seriously ill family member, or to bond with a new child either from birth, adoption, or foster care placement. In 2022, SB 951 (Durazo, Chapter 878, Statutes of 2022) was adopted to, among other things, for claims commencing on or after January 1, 2025, revise the formula for determining benefits under both the SDI and PFL programs to provide an increased wage replacement rate ranging from 70-90 percent based on the individual’s wages.
According to EDD’s PFL Statistical Information, for fiscal year 2023-24, there were a total of 293,203 claims paid with a total of $1,907,149,815 in benefits paid. The average weekly benefit amount was $924 for approximately 7.23 weeks. Of these, 49,496 were claims for family care and 269,739 were for bonding.[1]
The Importance of the “Designated Person”. Existing PFL provisions define “family member” to mean a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner. This definition does not reflect the changing structure of households in California and the realities of caring for each other. The U.S. Census Bureau data shows that California has a higher percentage of multigenerational households than average. Therefore, it is not uncommon for individuals in California to be living with other relatives. Immigrant populations are also more likely to live in multigenerational households.[2]
Additionally, California’s LGBTQ+ community is more likely to be impacted by current PFL definitions. Many LGBTQ+ adults, especially older adults, do not have any relationship with biological relatives. According to data from a study by the Center for American Progress, fewer than 1 in 3 respondents over age 55 reported that they would be likely to turn to biological or legally recognized family members for support when sick and would instead call upon a partner they were not married to, chosen family, or friends.[3]
In recognition of the uniqueness of California households, the Legislature has taken action in recent years to expand access to other protected leaves to “designated persons” identified by employees. Most recently, AB 1041 (Wicks, Chapter 748, Statutes of 2022) added a “designated person” to the list of individuals for whom an employee may take leave to care for under the California Family Rights Act and the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (Paid Sick Days).
Need for this bill?. According to the author: “Most Californians cannot afford to take time off from work to care for others without paid family leave. The lack of paid family leave benefits can lead to stress, debt, and financial hardship. SB 590 will amend California’s Paid Family Leave Insurance Program to allow workers to use the benefit while caring for a seriously ill member of their chosen or extended family. SB 590 will make our PFL program more equitable for LGBTQ+, immigrant and older Californians—all of whom disproportionately rely on chosen or extended family.”
Prior/Related Legislation
AB 518 (Wicks, 2023) was nearly identical to this bill [SB 590]. That measure became a two-year bill and was gutted and amended to address another topic related to the CalFresh program in 2024.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
One-time costs of approximately $2 million and ongoing annual costs of approximately $200,000 to the Employment Development Department (EDD), primarily to update documents and automated information technology systems used in administration of PFL benefits (Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund (UCDF)).
Assuming a 2.7% increase in PFL care-related claims filed effective July 1, 2027, EDD estimates this bill will result in additional benefits paid of approximately $2.5 million in 2027, $5.2 million in 2028, $5.4 million in 2029, and $5.5 million in 2030, when compared to current benefit projections. Since the worker-funded UCDF continuously appropriates such payments, this bill makes an appropriation.
SUPPORT: (Verified 9/9/25)
AARP (Co-source)
California Employment Lawyers Association (Co-source)
California Work & Family Coalition (Co-source)
Equality California (Co-source)
Equal Rights Advocates (Co-source)
Legal Aid at Work (Co-source)
A Better Balance
AAUW California
Access Reproductive Justice
ACLU California Action
Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment
Alzheimer's Association California
Alzheimer's Los Angeles
Alzheimer's Orange County
Alzheimer's San Diego
American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists - District IX
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
Asian Law Alliance
Asian Law Caucus
Association of California Caregiver Resource Centers
Black Women for Wellness Action Project
BreastfeedLA
California Alliance for Retired Americans
California Black Chamber of Commerce
California Breastfeeding Coalition
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
California Coalition on Family Caregiving
California Collaborative for Long-Term Services and Supports
California Commission on Aging
California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
California Domestic Workers Coalition
California Federation Business and Professional Women
California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO
California Immigrant Policy Center
California Latinas for Reproductive Justice
California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network
California Native Vote Project
California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
California Senior Legislature
California Teamsters Public Affairs Council
California WIC Association
California Women Lawyers
California Women's Law Center
Californians for Safety and Justice
CAMEO Network
Caring Across Generations
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice
Center for Law and Social Policy
Central Valley Gender Health & Wellness
Centro Legal De La Raza
Child Care Law Center
Citizens for Choice
COLAGE
Consumer Attorneys of California
Courage California
End Child Poverty California Powered by GRACE
Evolve California
Family Caregiver Alliance
Family Values @ Work
Family Violence Appellate Project
First 5 Association of California
First 5 California
Food Empowerment Project
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Fund Her
Futures Without Violence
GRACE - End Child Poverty in California
Health in Partnership
Human Impact Partners
Instituto De Educacion Popular Del Sur De California
Insure the Uninsured Project
Itsyourleave California Parental Leave Consulting
Jewish Center for Justice
JTMW LLC
Justice in Aging
LA Best Babies Network
Leeza's Care Connection
Legal Link
Los Angeles Alliance for A New Economy
Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California
Microenterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California
Mujeres Unidas Y Activas
National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
National Council of Jewish Women CA
National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles
National Domestic Workers Alliance
National Women's Political Caucus of California
Nourishing Justly
Oasis Legal Services
Orange County Equality Coalition
Our Family Coalition
Pacific Community Ventures
Parent Voices California
Poder Latinx
Prevention Institute
Public Counsel
Reproductive Freedom for All California
Rising Communities (formerly Community Health Councils)
Sacramento LGBT Community Center
Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee
Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
SEIU California
Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County
Small Business Majority
Somos Familia Valle
TechEquity Action
Thai Community Development Center
The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
The Gala Pride & Diversity Center
The LGBTQ Community Center of The Desert
The Restaurant Opportunity Center of The Bay
The Women's Employment Rights Clinic (WERC) At GGU
UAW Region 6
UNITE-LA
United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council
Universidad Popular
Warehouse Worker Resource Center
Watsonville Law Center
Western Center on Law & Poverty, Inc.
Women Organized to Make Abuse Nonexistent (WOMAN Inc.)
Women’s Employment Rights Clinic
Women's Foundation California
Working Partnerships USA
Worksafe
OPPOSITION: (Verified 9/9/25)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the sponsors:
“Restrictive family definitions exclude members of the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities, as well as older adults and people with disabilities. LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities disproportionately rely on and care for chosen family. California has higher percentages of people living in multigenerational households; immigrants, people of color, and those families with financial concerns are more likely to live in multigenerational homes. In addition to trying to manage financial pressures, adults living in multigenerational homes are providing care. More than 25% of adults in multigenerational homes are providing care for another adult or for a minor child who is not theirs. There is also a significant percentage (16.5%) of older Americans who do not have children, a number that has increased over the decades. It is imperative to update our definition of family to reflect the reality of working Californians.”
Assembly Floor 76 0 4
Ayes: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas
Noes:
No Vote Recorded: Castillo, DeMaio, Johnson, Tangipa
Prepared by: Alma Perez-Schwab / L., P.E. & R. / (916) 651-1520
10/19/26 13:11:18
**** END ****
Paid Family Leave Program Statistics, CA EDD, 2024. https://edd.ca.gov/siteassets/files/about_edd/quick-stats/qspfl_pfl_program_statistics.pdf ↑
“Making the Case for Chosen Family in Paid Family Leave and Medical Policies,” Lindsey Mahowald and Diana Boesch, Center for American Progress (February 16, 2021) https://www.americanprogress.org/article/making-case-chosen-family-paid-family-medical-leave-policies/ ↑
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | SB 590 |
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 590
Author: Durazo (D), et al.
Amended: 9/4/25 in Assembly
Vote: 21
SENATE LABOR, PUB. EMP. & RET. COMMITTEE: 5-0, 4/9/25
AYES: Smallwood-Cuevas, Strickland, Cortese, Durazo, Laird
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 5/23/25
AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab
NO VOTE RECORDED: Dahle
SENATE FLOOR: 38-0, 5/28/25
AYES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
NO VOTE RECORDED: Limón, Reyes
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 58-0, 9/9/25 – Roll call not available
SUBJECT: Paid family leave: eligibility: care for designated persons
SOURCE: AARP
California Employment Lawyers Association
California Work & Family Coalition
Equality California
Equal Rights Advocates
Legal Aid at Work
DIGEST:
This bill expands, commencing on July 1, 2028, eligibility for benefits under the Paid Family Leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person, as defined.
Assembly Amendments
1) delayed the operative date on these changes from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028; and 2) added provisions requiring the individual to identify the designated person when seeking to take the leave and, under penalty of perjury, attest to how the individual is related by blood or the equivalent to a family relationship.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Establishes the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program as a partial wage-replacement plan funded through employee payroll deductions that is available (through the Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave programs (PFL)) to eligible individuals who are unable to work due to sickness or injury of the employee (including pregnancy), the sickness or injury of a family member, or the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a new child. (Unemployment Insurance Code §2601-3308)
- Under the PFL program, provides eligible employees up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits within a 12-month period to worker who need to take time off work for the following reasons:
- To care for a seriously ill family member, as defined;
- To bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption;
- To participate in a qualifying event because of a family member’s military deployment.
(Unemployment Insurance Code §3301)
- PFL defines “family member” to mean a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner. (Unemployment Insurance Code §3302)
This bill:
- Commencing July 1, 2028, expands eligibility for benefits under the Paid Family Leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person.
- Defines “designated person” to mean any care recipient related by blood or whose association with the individual is the equivalent of a family relationship.
- Specifies that when an individual requests PFL benefits for the first time to care for a designated person, the individual shall do both of the following:
- Identify the designated person.
- Under penalty of perjury, attest to either of the following:
- How the individual is related by blood to the designated person.
- How the individual’s association with the designated person is the equivalent of a family relationship.
- Makes conforming changes to incorporate the designated person eligibility and makes other technical gender non-conforming changes to existing provisions.
Background
Paid Family Leave Program. In 2004, California was the first state in the nation to implement a Paid Family Leave program (administered as part of State Disability Insurance program) that provides benefits to workers who need to take time off to care for a seriously ill family member, or to bond with a new child either from birth, adoption, or foster care placement. In 2022, SB 951 (Durazo, Chapter 878, Statutes of 2022) was adopted to, among other things, for claims commencing on or after January 1, 2025, revise the formula for determining benefits under both the SDI and PFL programs to provide an increased wage replacement rate ranging from 70-90 percent based on the individual’s wages.
According to EDD’s PFL Statistical Information, for fiscal year 2023-24, there were a total of 293,203 claims paid with a total of $1,907,149,815 in benefits paid. The average weekly benefit amount was $924 for approximately 7.23 weeks. Of these, 49,496 were claims for family care and 269,739 were for bonding.[1]
The Importance of the “Designated Person”. Existing PFL provisions define “family member” to mean a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner. This definition does not reflect the changing structure of households in California and the realities of caring for each other. The U.S. Census Bureau data shows that California has a higher percentage of multigenerational households than average. Therefore, it is not uncommon for individuals in California to be living with other relatives. Immigrant populations are also more likely to live in multigenerational households.[2]
Additionally, California’s LGBTQ+ community is more likely to be impacted by current PFL definitions. Many LGBTQ+ adults, especially older adults, do not have any relationship with biological relatives. According to data from a study by the Center for American Progress, fewer than 1 in 3 respondents over age 55 reported that they would be likely to turn to biological or legally recognized family members for support when sick and would instead call upon a partner they were not married to, chosen family, or friends.[3]
In recognition of the uniqueness of California households, the Legislature has taken action in recent years to expand access to other protected leaves to “designated persons” identified by employees. Most recently, AB 1041 (Wicks, Chapter 748, Statutes of 2022) added a “designated person” to the list of individuals for whom an employee may take leave to care for under the California Family Rights Act and the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (Paid Sick Days).
Need for this bill?. According to the author: “Most Californians cannot afford to take time off from work to care for others without paid family leave. The lack of paid family leave benefits can lead to stress, debt, and financial hardship. SB 590 will amend California’s Paid Family Leave Insurance Program to allow workers to use the benefit while caring for a seriously ill member of their chosen or extended family. SB 590 will make our PFL program more equitable for LGBTQ+, immigrant and older Californians—all of whom disproportionately rely on chosen or extended family.”
Prior/Related Legislation
AB 518 (Wicks, 2023) was nearly identical to this bill [SB 590]. That measure became a two-year bill and was gutted and amended to address another topic related to the CalFresh program in 2024.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
One-time costs of approximately $2 million and ongoing annual costs of approximately $200,000 to the Employment Development Department (EDD), primarily to update documents and automated information technology systems used in administration of PFL benefits (Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund (UCDF)).
Assuming a 2.7% increase in PFL care-related claims filed effective July 1, 2027, EDD estimates this bill will result in additional benefits paid of approximately $2.5 million in 2027, $5.2 million in 2028, $5.4 million in 2029, and $5.5 million in 2030, when compared to current benefit projections. Since the worker-funded UCDF continuously appropriates such payments, this bill makes an appropriation.
SUPPORT: (Verified 9/9/25)
AARP (Co-source)
California Employment Lawyers Association (Co-source)
California Work & Family Coalition (Co-source)
Equality California (Co-source)
Equal Rights Advocates (Co-source)
Legal Aid at Work (Co-source)
A Better Balance
AAUW California
Access Reproductive Justice
ACLU California Action
Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment
Alzheimer's Association California
Alzheimer's Los Angeles
Alzheimer's Orange County
Alzheimer's San Diego
American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists - District IX
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
Asian Law Alliance
Asian Law Caucus
Association of California Caregiver Resource Centers
Black Women for Wellness Action Project
BreastfeedLA
California Alliance for Retired Americans
California Black Chamber of Commerce
California Breastfeeding Coalition
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
California Coalition on Family Caregiving
California Collaborative for Long-Term Services and Supports
California Commission on Aging
California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
California Domestic Workers Coalition
California Federation Business and Professional Women
California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO
California Immigrant Policy Center
California Latinas for Reproductive Justice
California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network
California Native Vote Project
California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
California Senior Legislature
California Teamsters Public Affairs Council
California WIC Association
California Women Lawyers
California Women's Law Center
Californians for Safety and Justice
CAMEO Network
Caring Across Generations
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice
Center for Law and Social Policy
Central Valley Gender Health & Wellness
Centro Legal De La Raza
Child Care Law Center
Citizens for Choice
COLAGE
Consumer Attorneys of California
Courage California
End Child Poverty California Powered by GRACE
Evolve California
Family Caregiver Alliance
Family Values @ Work
Family Violence Appellate Project
First 5 Association of California
First 5 California
Food Empowerment Project
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Fund Her
Futures Without Violence
GRACE - End Child Poverty in California
Health in Partnership
Human Impact Partners
Instituto De Educacion Popular Del Sur De California (IDEPSCA)
Insure the Uninsured Project
Itsyourleave California Parental Leave Consulting
Jewish Center for Justice
JTMW LLC
Justice in Aging
LA Best Babies Network
Leeza's Care Connection
Legal Link
Los Angeles Alliance for A New Economy
Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California
Microenterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California
Mujeres Unidas Y Activas
National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
National Council of Jewish Women CA
National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles
National Domestic Workers Alliance
National Women's Political Caucus of California
Nourishing Justly
Oasis Legal Services
Orange County Equality Coalition
Our Family Coalition
Pacific Community Ventures
Parent Voices California
Poder Latinx
Prevention Institute
Public Counsel
Reproductive Freedom for All California
Rising Communities (formerly Community Health Councils)
Sacramento LGBT Community Center
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee
Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
SEIU California
Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County
Small Business Majority
Somos Familia Valle
TechEquity Action
Thai Community Development Center
The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
The Gala Pride & Diversity Center
The LGBTQ Community Center of The Desert
The Restaurant Opportunity Center of The Bay
The Women's Employment Rights Clinic (WERC) At GGU
UAW Region 6
UNITE-LA
United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council
Universidad Popular
Warehouse Worker Resource Center
Watsonville Law Center
Western Center on Law & Poverty, Inc.
Women Organized to Make Abuse Nonexistent (WOMAN Inc.)
Women’s Employment Rights Clinic
Women's Foundation California
Working Partnerships USA
Worksafe
OPPOSITION: (Verified 9/9/25)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:
According to the sponsors:
“Restrictive family definitions exclude members of the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities, as well as older adults and people with disabilities. LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities disproportionately rely on and care for chosen family. California has higher percentages of people living in multigenerational households; immigrants, people of color, and those families with financial concerns are more likely to live in multigenerational homes. In addition to trying to manage financial pressures, adults living in multigenerational homes are providing care. More than 25% of adults in multigenerational homes are providing care for another adult or for a minor child who is not theirs. There is also a significant percentage (16.5%) of older Americans who do not have children, a number that has increased over the decades. It is imperative to update our definition of family to reflect the reality of working Californians.”
Prepared by: Alma Perez-Schwab / L., P.E. & R. / (916) 651-1556
9/9/25 13:00:17
**** END ****
Paid Family Leave Program Statistics, CA EDD, 2024. https://edd.ca.gov/siteassets/files/about_edd/quick-stats/qspfl_pfl_program_statistics.pdf ↑
“Making the Case for Chosen Family in Paid Family Leave and Medical Policies,” Lindsey Mahowald and Diana Boesch, Center for American Progress (February 16, 2021) https://www.americanprogress.org/article/making-case-chosen-family-paid-family-medical-leave-policies/ ↑
SENATE THIRD READING
STR Bill Id:SB 590
Author:(Durazo)
As Amended Ver:September 4, 2025
Majority vote
SUMMARY
Allows a "designated person" to receive Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits.
Major Provisions
- Commencing July 1, 2028, expands eligibility for benefits under the PFL program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person.
- Defines "designated person" to mean a care recipient, as defined, related by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.
- Requires an individual that requests PFL to care for a designated person for the first time to identify the designated person, and to attest under penalty of perjury to how the individual is either related by blood to the designated person or how the individual's association with the designated person is the equivalent of a family relationship.
- Makes conforming changes to incorporate the designated person eligibility and makes other technical gender non-conforming changes to existing provisions.
COMMENTS
- Background: Almost all private sector employees and some public sector employees pay into California's Disability Insurance Fund, which funds the PFL Insurance Program. The program is entirely employee funded. PFL provides partial wage replacement when a worker is unable to work due to three circumstances: caring for a seriously ill family member (parent, child, spouse, registered domestic partner, sibling, grandparent or grandchild); bonding with a new child (through birth, adoption, or foster care); or an exigency related to a spouse, registered domestic partner, parent, or child's military deployment.
- Caregivers: Immigrant, LGBTQ+, older and disabled Californians often rely upon chosen and extended family for care. However, workers frequently can't access PFL benefits to care for a seriously ill member of their extended or chosen family.
Researchers have found substantial complexity in the living arrangements of migrants, who are less likely than other groups to live in simple arrangements with partners and children and much more likely to co-reside with extended family and non-biological family members. Many LGBTQ+ adults, especially older adults, do not have accessible relationships with biological relatives. In one study, 42% of LGBTQ+ adults said they would depend on close friends in an emergency, compared to 25% of the general population.
A 2021 analysis from the Census Bureau found that, "Of the 92.2 million adults ages 55 and older in 2018, 15.2 million (16.5%) are childless." Aging adults also rely on a wide network of relationships for caregiving. Many caregivers are partners, neighbors, or friends. Among Americans who provide care to an adult age 65 or older, more than 23% provide care for a friend, neighbor, or other unrelated person.
Among people with disabilities, 42% reported taking time off to care for chosen family, compared with 30% of people without disabilities.
- Amendments: Amendments to the bill delay implementation for an additional year, i.e., until July 1, 2028, specify that a designated person must be "a care recipient" rather than an individual, and require first time applicants for PFL for a designated person to identify the designated person and to attest under penalty of perjury to how that person is related by blood or how their association is equivalent of a family relationship.
Existing law provides specified enforcement that is generally applicable to false or fraudulent statements made in support of claims for disability insurance, including PFL. Section 2116 of the Unemployment Insurance Code provides that it is unlawful to "knowingly present or cause to be presented any false or fraudulent written or oral material statement in support of any claim for disability insurance including family temporary disability insurance benefits."
Sections 2117 and 2118 specify that supplying and verifying false or fraudulent information is punishable by a civil penalty of not more than $1,000, or not more than $20,000 if the violation was willful and intentional. Sections 2117 and 2118 also provide that such a violation is a misdemeanor offense, and can be punishable by imprisonment in the county jail or state prison for up to one year. In contrast, Sections 126 and 1170 of the Penal Code establish perjury as a felony, punishable by up to four years imprisonment.
The current PFL application, Form de2501f, nonetheless requires a declaration and signature attesting that "I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing statement including any accompanying statements is to the best of my knowledge and belief true, correct, and complete." (Part A25, Part B11) While for most circumstances, including in Form de2501f, this type of oath is not explicitly provided in statute or regulation, such a declaration under penalty of perjury is prescribed in 22 CCR Section 2706-2(g)(12) with respect to military assist certification. Should this bill become law, it would be the first instance relating to PFL in which penalty of perjury for a claimant seeking benefits is specified in statute.
To the extent that the required attestation under penalty of perjury pursuant to this bill is folded into or mirrors the existing signature and declaration under penalty of perjury on current forms, this is unlikely to create additional complications. Otherwise, false or fraudulent statements in this particular context could be punishable as felonies with penalties that are four times as severe as the statutory penalties for any other false or fraudulent statements made toward the same end. Such an outcome could create confusion as to which penalties would be applicable to a given violation.
According to the Author
"No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and caring for a seriously ill loved one and especially not those workers who have been contributing each month into the Paid Family Leave Insurance program. Yet, that is exactly what is happening in California when a worker's loved one is not on the list of family members they can care for under that law. SB 590 updates California's paid family leave law so that Californians can care for their extended or chosen family. In doing so, California will join Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington in recognizing the importance of these relationships."
Arguments in Support
A large coalition representing organizations including labor groups, social justice and civil liberties groups, LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights groups, children's advocacy groups, small business groups, and legal groups, among others, argues in support:
SB 590 would create a more equitable Paid Family Leave program for California workers. 16.5% of older Americans do not have children, so are more likely to rely on chosen and extended family for care. LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities disproportionately rely on and care for chosen family members. California has higher percentages of people living in multigenerational households; immigrants, people of color, and those families with financial concerns are more likely to live in multigenerational homes. […] California can make our landmark Paid Family Leave program more equitable in a fiscally responsible way by allowing claimants to use Paid Family Leave to care for their chosen and extended family members.
Arguments in Opposition
None on file.
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, with respect to the previous version of the bill, "One-time costs of approximately $2 million and ongoing annual costs of approximately $200,000 to the Employment Development Department (EDD) [and] [a]ssuming a 2.7% increase in PFL care-related claims filed effective July 1, 2027, EDD estimates this bill will result in additional benefits paid of approximately $2.5 million in 2027, $5.2 million in 2028, $5.4 million in 2029, and $5.5 million in 2030, when compared to current benefit projections."
VOTES
SENATE FLOOR: 38-0-2
YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
ABS, ABST OR NV: Limón, Reyes
ASM INSURANCE: 14-0-3
YES: Calderon, Wallis, Addis, Alvarez, Ávila Farías, Berman, Chen, Ellis, Gipson, Harabedian, Nguyen, Ortega, Petrie-Norris, Michelle Rodriguez
ABS, ABST OR NV: Hadwick, Krell, Valencia
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-1-0
YES: Wicks, Sanchez, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Ahrens, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta
NO: Tangipa
UPDATED
VERSION: September 4, 2025
CONSULTANT: Landon Klein / INS. / (916) 319-2086 FN: 0001729
SENATE THIRD READING
STR Bill Id:SB 590
Author:(Durazo)
As Amended Ver:April 3, 2025
Majority vote
SUMMARY
Allows a ″designated person″ to receive Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits.
Major Provisions
- Commencing July 1, 2027, expands eligibility for benefits under the PFL program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person.
- Defines ″designated person″ to mean any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.
- Authorizes employees to identify the designated person when they file a claim for benefits.
- Makes conforming changes to incorporate the designated person eligibility and makes other technical gender non-conforming changes to existing provisions.
COMMENTS
- Background: Almost all private sector employees and some public sector employees pay into California′s Disability Insurance Fund, which funds the PFL Insurance Program. The program is entirely employee funded. PFL provides partial wage replacement when a worker is unable to work due to three circumstances: caring for a seriously ill family member (parent, child, spouse, registered domestic partner, sibling, grandparent or grandchild); bonding with a new child (through birth, adoption, or foster care); or an exigency related to a spouse, registered domestic partner, parent, or child′s military deployment.
- Caregivers: Immigrant, LGBTQ+, older and disabled Californians often rely upon chosen and extended family for care. However, workers frequently can′t access PFL benefits to care for a seriously ill member of their extended or chosen family.
Researchers have found substantial complexity in the living arrangements of migrants, who are less likely than other groups to live in simple arrangements with partners and children and much more likely to co-reside with extended family and non-biological family members. Many LGBTQ+ adults, especially older adults, do not have accessible relationships with biological relatives. In one study, 42% of LGBTQ+ adults said they would depend on close friends in an emergency, compared to 25% of the general population.
A 2021 analysis from the Census Bureau found that, ″Of the 92.2 million adults ages 55 and older in 2018, 15.2 million (16.5%) are childless.″ Aging adults also rely on a wide network of relationships for caregiving. Many caregivers are partners, neighbors, or friends. Among Americans who provide care to an adult age 65 or older, more than 23% provide care for a friend, neighbor, or other unrelated person.
Among people with disabilities, 42% reported taking time off to care for chosen family, compared with 30% of people without disabilities.
According to the Author
″No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and caring for a seriously ill loved one and especially not those workers who have been contributing each month into the Paid Family Leave Insurance program. Yet, that is exactly what is happening in California when a worker′s loved one is not on the list of family members they can care for under that law. SB 590 updates California′s paid family leave law so that Californians can care for their extended or chosen family. In doing so, California will join Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington in recognizing the importance of these relationships.″
Arguments in Support
A large coalition representing organizations including labor groups, social justice and civil liberties groups, LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights groups, children′s advocacy groups, small business groups, and legal groups, among others, argues in support:
SB 590 would create a more equitable Paid Family Leave program for California workers. 16.5% of older Americans do not have children, so are more likely to rely on chosen and extended family for care. LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities disproportionately rely on and care for chosen family members. California has higher percentages of people living in multigenerational households; immigrants, people of color, and those families with financial concerns are more likely to live in multigenerational homes. […] California can make our landmark Paid Family Leave program more equitable in a fiscally responsible way by allowing claimants to use Paid Family Leave to care for their chosen and extended family members.
Arguments in Opposition
None on file.
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, ″One-time costs of approximately $2 million and ongoing annual costs of approximately $200,000 to the Employment Development Department (EDD) [and] [a]ssuming a 2.7% increase in PFL care-related claims filed effective July 1, 2027, EDD estimates this bill will result in additional benefits paid of approximately $2.5 million in 2027, $5.2 million in 2028, $5.4 million in 2029, and $5.5 million in 2030, when compared to current benefit projections.″
VOTES
SENATE FLOOR: 38-0-2
YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
ABS, ABST OR NV: Limón, Reyes
ASM INSURANCE: 14-0-3
YES: Calderon, Wallis, Addis, Alvarez, Ávila Farías, Berman, Chen, Ellis, Gipson, Harabedian, Nguyen, Ortega, Petrie-Norris, Michelle Rodriguez
ABS, ABST OR NV: Hadwick, Krell, Valencia
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 14-1-0
YES: Wicks, Sanchez, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Ahrens, Pacheco, Pellerin, Solache, Ta
NO: Tangipa
UPDATED
VERSION: April 3, 2025
CONSULTANT: Landon Klein / INS. / (916) 319-2086 FN: 0001363
Date of Hearing: August 20, 2025
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Buffy Wicks, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 590
Author:(Durazo) – As Amended Ver:April 3, 2025
Policy Committee: | Insurance | Vote: | 14 - 0 |
|
| ||
|
|
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill expands Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits, beginning July 1, 2027, to a person who takes time off work to care for a seriously ill “designated person,” defined as any individual related by blood or whose association with the claimant is the equivalent of a family relationship.
FISCAL EFFECT:
One-time costs of approximately $2 million and ongoing annual costs of approximately $200,000 to the Employment Development Department (EDD), primarily to update documents and automated information technology systems used in administration of PFL benefits (Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund (UCDF)).
Assuming a 2.7% increase in PFL care-related claims filed effective July 1, 2027, EDD estimates this bill will result in additional benefits paid of approximately $2.5 million in 2027, $5.2 million in 2028, $5.4 million in 2029, and $5.5 million in 2030, when compared to current benefit projections. Since the worker-funded UCDF continuously appropriates such payments, this bill makes an appropriation.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. According to the author:
No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and caring for a seriously ill loved one and especially not those workers who have been contributing each month into the [PFL] Insurance program. Yet, that is exactly what is happening in California when a worker’s loved one is not on the list of family members they can care for under that law. SB 590 updates California’s [PFL] law so that Californians can care for their extended or chosen family. In doing so, California will join Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington in recognizing the importance of these relationships.
This bill is co-sponsored by the California Employment Lawyers Association, California Work and Family Coalition, Equality California, Equal Rights Advocates, and Legal Aid at Work, and supported by a large coalition of economic and social justice groups.
- Background. PFL Program. PFL was enacted in 2002 as an expansion of the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program, extending disability compensation to individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, or domestic partner, or to bond with a new minor child. PFL also covers individuals taking time off work to assist a military family member called to active duty. The SDI program (which includes the PFL program) is financed solely by worker contributions through an employee payroll deduction. The amount withheld from a worker’s paycheck, up to 1.5%, is determined annually by EDD. Beginning January 1, 2025, PFL provides up to eight weeks of 70% to 90% of wage replacement.
Designated Person. AB 1041, Chapter 748, Statutes of 2022, expanded California Family Rights Act (CFRA) job protections and paid sick leave to an employee caring for a “designated person,” defined as any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship. The employee may identify the designated person at the time leave is requested and the employer may limit an employee to one designated person per 12-month period for family care and medical leave or paid sick days. PFL, which provides wage replacement only during leave, is a benefit separate from federal Family and Medical Leave Act and CFRA job protections and paid sick leave. This bill expands PFL benefits to a “designated person.”
- Prior Legislation. AB 518 (Wicks), of the 2023-24 Legislative Session, was substantially similar to this bill. AB 518 was subsequently amended to address an unrelated issue.
AB 524 (Wicks), of the 2023-24 Legislative Session, would have expanded the list of protected characteristics under the Fair Employment and Housing Act to prohibit employment discrimination due to “family caregiver status,” which included being a person who provides direct care to a designated person. AB 524 was vetoed by Governor Newsom.
Analysis Prepared by: Irene Ho / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: July 9, 2025
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE
Lisa Calderon, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 590
Author:(Durazo) – As Amended Ver:April 3, 2025
SENATE VOTE: 38-0
SUBJECT: Paid family leave: eligibility: care for designated persons
SUMMARY: Allows a “designated person” to receive Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits.
Specifically, this bill:
- Commencing July 1, 2027, expands eligibility for benefits under the PFL program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person.
- Defines “designated person” to mean any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.
- Authorizes employees to identify the designated person when they file a claim for benefits.
- Makes conforming changes to incorporate the designated person eligibility and makes other technical gender non-conforming changes to existing provisions.
EXISTING LAW:
- Establishes the Employment Development Department (EDD) to, among other duties, administer the Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Disability Insurance programs. (UI Code §301)
- Establishes the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program as a partial wage-replacement plan funded through employee payroll deductions that is available (through the Disability Insurance and PFL programs) to eligible individuals who are unable to work due to sickness or injury of the employee (including pregnancy), the sickness or injury of a family member, or the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a new child. (UI Code §2601-3308)
- PFL provides eligible employees up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits within a 12-month period to worker who need to take time off work for the following reasons:
- To care for a seriously ill family member, as defined;
- To bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption;
- To participate in a qualifying event because of a family member’s military deployment. (UI Code §3301)
- PFL defines “family member” to mean a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner. (UI Code §3302)
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose: According to the author, “No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and caring for a seriously ill loved one and especially not those workers who have been contributing each month into the Paid Family Leave Insurance program. Yet, that is exactly what is happening in California when a worker’s loved one is not on the list of family members they can care for under that law. SB 590 updates California’s paid family leave law so that Californians can care for their extended or chosen family. In doing so, California will join Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington in recognizing the importance of these relationships.”
- Background: Almost all private sector employees and some public sector employees pay into California’s Disability Insurance Fund, which funds the PFL Insurance Program. The program is entirely employee funded. PFL provides partial wage replacement when a worker is unable to work due to three circumstances: caring for a seriously ill family member (parent, child, spouse, registered domestic partner, sibling, grandparent or grandchild); bonding with a new child (through birth, adoption or foster care); or an exigency related to a spouse, registered domestic partner, parent, or child’s military deployment.
Researchers have found substantial complexity in the living arrangements of migrants, who are less likely than other groups to live in simple arrangements with partners and children and much more likely to co-reside with extended family and non-biological family members. Many LGBTQ+ adults, especially older adults, do not have accessible relationships with biological relatives. In one study, 42 percent of LGBTQ+ adults said they would depend on close friends in an emergency, compared to 25 percent of the general population. A 2021 analysis from the Census Bureau found that, “Of the 92.2 million adults ages 55 and older in 2018, 15.2 million (16.5%) are childless.” Aging adults also rely on a wide network of relationships for caregiving. Many caregivers are partners, neighbors or friends. Among Americans who provide care to an adult age 65 or older, more than 23% provide care for a friend, neighbor, or other unrelated person. Among people with disabilities, 42 percent reported taking time off to care for chosen family, compared with 30 percent of people without disabilities. |
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
A Better Balance
AARP
Aauw California
Access Reproductive Justice
ACLU California Action
Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment
Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles
Alzheimer's Orange County
Alzheimer's San Diego
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Afl-cio
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
Asian Law Alliance
Asian Law Caucus
Association of California Caregiver Resource Centers
Black Women for Wellness Action Project
California Alliance for Retired Americans
California Black Chamber of Commerce
California Breastfeeding Coalition
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
California Coalition on Family Caregiving
California Collaborative for Long-term Services and Supports (CCLTSS)
California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
California Domestic Workers Coalition
California Employment Lawyers Association
California Federation Business and Professional Women
California Federation of Labor Unions, Afl-cio
California Immigrant Policy Center
California Latinas for Reproductive Justice
California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
California Lgbtq Health and Human Services Network
California Native Vote Project
California Pan-ethnic Health Network
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
California Wic Association
California Women Lawyers
California Women's Law Center
California Work & Family Coalition
Californians for Safety and Justice
Cameo Network
Caring Across Generations
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ)
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Central Valley Gender Health & Wellness
Centro Legal De LA Raza
Child Care Law Center
Citizens for Choice
Colage
Consumer Attorneys of California
Courage California
End Child Poverty California Powered by Grace
Equal Rights Advocates
Equality California
Evolve California
Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA)
Family Values @ Work
Family Violence Appellate Project
First 5 Association of California
First 5 California
Food Empowerment Project
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Futures Without Violence
Health in Partnership
Instituto De Educacion Popular Del Sur De California (IDEPSCA)
Insure the Uninsured Project
Jewish Center for Justice
Jtmw LLC
Justice in Aging
LA Best Babies Network
Leeza's Care Connection
Legal Aid At Work
Legal Link
Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy
Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California
Microenterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California
Mujeres Unidas Y Activas
National Association of Social Workers California
National Council of Jewish Women CA
National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles
National Domestic Workers Alliance
National Women's Political Caucus of California
Nourishing Justly
Oasis Legal Services
Orange County Equality Coalition
Our Family Coalition
Pacific Community Ventures
Parent Voices California
Poder Latinx
Prevention Institute
Public Counsel
Reproductive Freedom for All California
Rising Communities (formerly Community Health Councils)
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition
Seiu California
Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County
Small Business Majority
Somos Familia Valle
Techequity Action
Thai Community Development Center
The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
The Gala Pride & Diversity Center
The Lgbtq Community Center of the Desert
The Restaurant Opportunity Center of the Bay
UAW Region 6
Ufcw - Western States Council
Unite-la
Universidad Popular
Warehouse Worker Resource Center
Watsonville Law Center
Western Center on Law and Poverty
Women Organized to Make Abuse Non-existent (woman Inc)
Women's Employment Rights Clinic of Golden Gate University
Women's Foundation California
Working Partnerships USA
Worksafe
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by: Paul Riches / INS. / (916) 319-2086
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | SB 590 |
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 590
Author: Durazo (D), et al.
Amended: 4/3/25
Vote: 21
SENATE LABOR, PUB. EMP. & RET. COMMITTEE: 5-0, 4/9/25
AYES: Smallwood-Cuevas, Strickland, Cortese, Durazo, Laird
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE:
AYES:
NOES:
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 5/23/25
AYES: Caballero, Seyarto, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab
NO VOTE RECORDED: Dahle
SUBJECT: Paid family leave: eligibility: care for designated persons
SOURCE: AARP
California Employment Lawyers Association
California Work & Family Coalition
Equality California
Equal Rights Advocates
Legal Aid at Work
DIGEST:
This bill expands, commencing on July 1, 2027, eligibility for benefits under the Paid Family Leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person, as defined.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Establishes the Employment Development Department (EDD) to, among other duties, administer the Unemployment Insurance and Disability Insurance programs. (Unemployment Insurance Code §301)
- Establishes the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program as a partial wage-replacement plan funded through employee payroll deductions that is available (through the Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave programs) to eligible individuals who are unable to work due to sickness or injury of the employee (including pregnancy), the sickness or injury of a family member, or the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a new child. (Unemployment Insurance Code §2601-3308)
- States, paid Family Leave (PFL) provides eligible employees up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits within a 12-month period to worker who need to take time off work for the following reasons:
- To care for a seriously ill family member, as defined;
- To bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption;
- To participate in a qualifying event because of a family member’s military deployment.
(Unemployment Insurance Code §3301)
- PFL defines “family member” to mean a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner. (Unemployment Insurance Code §3302)
This bill:
- Requires, commencing July 1, 2027, expands eligibility for benefits under the Paid Family Leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person.
- Defines “designated person” to mean any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.
- Authorizes employees to identify the designated person when they file a claim for benefits.
- Makes conforming changes to incorporate the designated person eligibility and makes other technical gender non-conforming changes to existing provisions.
Background
Paid Family Leave Program. In 2004, California was the first state in the nation to implement a Paid Family Leave program (administered as part of State Disability Insurance program) that provides benefits to workers who need to take time off to care for a seriously ill family member, or to bond with a new child either from birth, adoption, or foster care placement. Effective January 1, 2021, the PFL scope was expanded to include employees taking time off work to assist a military family member under covered active duty or call to covered active duty. PFL provides up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits.
In 2022, SB 951 (Durazo, Chapter 878, Statutes of 2022) was adopted to, among other things, for claims commencing on or after January 1, 2025, revise the formula for determining benefits under both the SDI and PFL programs to provide an increased wage replacement rate ranging from 70-90 percent based on the individual’s wages.
According to EDD’s PFL Statistical Information, for fiscal year 2023-24, there were a total of 293,203 claims paid with a total of $1,907,149,815 in benefits paid. The average weekly benefit amount was $924 for approximately 7.23 weeks. Of these, 49,496 were claims for family care and 269,739 were for bonding.[1]
The Importance of the “Designated Person”. Existing PFL provisions define “family member” to mean a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner. This definition does not reflect the changing structure of households in California and the realities of caring for each other. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the number of households in the United States that follow the traditional nuclear family structure with two married parents are declining, while the number of other types of households are increasing.[2]
The U.S. Census Bureau data shows that California has a higher percentage of multigenerational households than average. Therefore, it is not uncommon for individuals in California to be living with other relatives. Immigrant populations are also more likely to live in multigenerational households.
Additionally, California’s LGBTQ+ community is more likely to be impacted by current PFL definitions. Many LGBTQ+ adults, especially older adults, do not have any relationship with biological relatives. According to data from a study by the Center for American Progress, fewer than 1 in 3 respondents over age 55 reported that they would be likely to turn to biological or legally recognized family members for support when sick and would instead call upon a partner they were not married to, chosen family, or friends.[3] Additionally, according to a survey by AARP, two-thirds of LGBTQ+ adults age 45 and over believe they will need someone to provide caregiving for them in the future and eight in ten say they are not sure they will have adequate family or social supports in their later years.[4]
In recognition of the uniqueness of California households, the Legislature has taken action in recent years to expand access to other protected leaves to “designated persons” identified by employees. Most recently, AB 1041 (Wicks, Chapter 748, Statutes of 2022) added a “designated person” to the list of individuals for whom an employee may take leave to care for under the California Family Rights Act and the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (Paid Sick Days).
Need for this bill?. According to the author: “Most Californians cannot afford to take time off from work to care for others without paid family leave. The lack of paid family leave benefits can lead to stress, debt, and financial hardship. SB 590 will amend California’s Paid Family Leave Insurance Program to allow workers to use the benefit while caring for a seriously ill member of their chosen or extended family. SB 590 will make our PFL program more equitable for LGBTQ+, immigrant and older Californians—all of whom disproportionately rely on chosen or extended family.”
Prior/Related Legislation
SB 1090 (Durazo, Chapter 876, Statutes of 2024) authorized workers to file a claim for SDI or PFL benefits up to 30 days in advance of the first compensable day of disability and requires EDD to issue payment on those claims within 14 days of receipt (per existing law) or as soon as eligibility begins for the claimant, whichever is later.
AB 518 (Wicks, 2023) was nearly identical to this bill [SB 590]. That measure became a two-year bill and was gutted and amended to address another topic related to the CalFresh program in 2024.
AB 575 (Papan, 2023, Vetoed) would have made changes to the PFL program to extend eligibility to workers who need to take time off work to bond with a minor child within one year of assuming responsibilities of a child in loco parentis and delete restrictions relating to how individuals use their PFL benefits, as specified.
AB 1041 (Wicks, Chapter 748, Statutes of 2022), expanded the list of individuals for which an employee can take leave under the California Family Rights Act and the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 to include a designated person.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
- The Employment Development Department (EDD) indicates that it would incur one-time costs of $2 million, and annual ongoing costs of $200,000, for document updates and programming/maintenance of information technology systems used to administrate PFL benefits (Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund).
- Assuming a 2.7 percent increase in PFL care-related claims filed effective July 1, 2027, EDD estimates that this bill would result in a benefit increase of $2.9 million in 2027, $6 million in 2028, $6.4 million in 2029, and $6.7 million in 2030, relative to current benefit projections (Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund).
SUPPORT: (Verified 5/23/25)
AARP (Co-source)
California Employment Lawyers Association (Co-source)
California Work & Family Coalition (Co-source)
Equality California (Co-source)
Equal Rights Advocates (Co-source)
Legal Aid at Work (Co-source)
A Better Balance
AAUW California
Access Reproductive Justice
ACLU California Action
Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment
Alzheimer's Association California
Alzheimer's Los Angeles
Alzheimer's Orange County
Alzheimer's San Diego
American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists - District IX
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
Asian Law Alliance
Asian Law Caucus
Association of California Caregiver Resource Centers
Black Women for Wellness Action Project
BreastfeedLA
California Black Chamber of Commerce
California Breastfeeding Coalition
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
California Coalition on Family Caregiving
California Collaborative for Long-Term Services and Supports
California Commission on Aging
California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
California Domestic Workers Coalition
California Federation Business and Professional Women
California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO
California Immigrant Policy Center
California Latinas for Reproductive Justice
California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network
California Native Vote Project
California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
California Senior Legislature
California WIC Association
California Women Lawyers
California Women's Law Center
Californians for Safety and Justice
CAMEO Network
Caring Across Generations
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice
Center for Law and Social Policy
Central Valley Gender Health & Wellness
Centro Legal De La Raza
Child Care Law Center
Citizens for Choice
COLAGE
Consumer Attorneys of California
Courage California
End Child Poverty California Powered by GRACE
Evolve California
Family Caregiver Alliance
Family Values @ Work
Family Violence Appellate Project
First 5 Association of California
First 5 California
Food Empowerment Project
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Fund Her
Futures Without Violence
GRACE - End Child Poverty in California
Human Impact Partners
Instituto De Educacion Popular Del Sur De California (IDEPSCA)
Insure the Uninsured Project
Jewish Center for Justice
JTMW LLC
Justice in Aging
LA Best Babies Network
Leeza's Care Connection
Legal Link
Los Angeles Alliance for A New Economy
Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California
Microenterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California
Mujeres Unidas Y Activas
National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
National Council of Jewish Women CA
National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles
National Domestic Workers Alliance
National Women's Political Caucus of California
Nourishing Justly
Oasis Legal Services
Orange County Equality Coalition
Our Family Coalition
Pacific Community Ventures
Parent Voices California
Poder Latinx
Prevention Institute
Public Counsel
Reproductive Freedom for All California
Rising Communities (formerly Community Health Councils)
Sacramento LGBT Community Center
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee
Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County
Small Business Majority
Somos Familia Valle
TechEquity Action
Thai Community Development Center
The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
The Gala Pride & Diversity Center
The LGBTQ Community Center of The Desert
The Restaurant Opportunity Center of The Bay
The Women's Employment Rights Clinic (WERC) At GGU
UAW Region 6
UNITE-LA
United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council
Universidad Popular
Warehouse Worker Resource Center
Watsonville Law Center
Western Center on Law & Poverty, Inc.
Women Organized to Make Abuse Nonexistent (WOMAN Inc.)
Women’s Employment Rights Clinic
Women's Foundation California
Working Partnerships USA
Worksafe
OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/23/25)
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the sponsors:
“Restrictive family definitions exclude members of the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities, as well as older adults and people with disabilities. LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities disproportionately rely on and care for chosen family. California has higher percentages of people living in multigenerational households; immigrants, people of color, and those families with financial concerns are more likely to live in multigenerational homes. In addition to trying to manage financial pressures, adults living in multigenerational homes are providing care. More than 25% of adults in multigenerational homes are providing care for another adult or for a minor child who is not theirs. There is also a significant percentage (16.5%) of older Americans who do not have children, a number that has increased over the decades. It is imperative to update our definition of family to reflect the reality of working Californians.”
Prepared by: Alma Perez-Schwab / L., P.E. & R. / (916) 651-1556
5/25/25 18:20:49
**** END ****
Paid Family Leave Program Statistics, CA EDD, 2024. https://edd.ca.gov/siteassets/files/about_edd/quick-stats/qspfl_pfl_program_statistics.pdf ↑
“Making the Case for Chosen Family in Paid Family Leave and Medical Policies,” Lindsey Mahowald and Diana Boesch, Center for American Progress (February 16, 2021) https://www.americanprogress.org/article/making-case-chosen-family-paid-family-medical-leave-policies/ ↑
“LGBTQ Adults 45+ Are Worried About Discrimination and Support as They Age,” Cassandra Cantave, AARP (June 2022) https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/life/info-2022/lgbtq-community-dignity-2022.html ↑
SENATE COMMITTEE ON
Senator Anna Caballero, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular Session
SB 590 (Durazo) - Paid family leave: eligibility: care for designated persons
Version: | Policy Vote: |
Urgency: | Mandate: |
Hearing Date: | Consultant: |
Bill Summary:
SB 590 would expand eligibility for benefits under the Paid Family Leave (PFL) program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person, as defined.
Fiscal Impact:
- The Employment Development Department (EDD) indicates that it would incur one-time costs of $2 million, and annual ongoing costs of $200,000, for document updates and programming/maintenance of information technology systems used to administrate PFL benefits (Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund).
- Assuming a 2.7 percent increase in PFL care-related claims filed effective July 1, 2027, EDD estimates that this bill would result in a benefit increase of $2.9 million in 2027, $6 million in 2028, $6.4 million in 2029, and $6.7 million in 2030, relative to current benefit projections (Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund).
Background:
The State Disability Insurance (SDI) program, administered by EDD, was created in 1946 to provide monetary benefits to workers unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. The SDI program is financed solely by worker contributions and covers approximately 19 million individuals.
In 2004, California was the first state in the nation to implement a PFL program (administered as part of SDI) that provides benefits to workers who need to take time off to care for a seriously ill family member, or to bond with a new child either from birth, adoption, or foster care placement. Effective January 1, 2021, the PFL scope was expanded to include employees taking time off work to assist a military family member under covered active duty or call to covered active duty. PFL initially provided up to eight weeks of the 60-70 percent wage replacement. EDD data indicate that in 2023-24, there were a total of 293,203 claims paid with a total of $1.9 billion in benefits paid. The average weekly benefit amount was $924 for approximately 7.23 weeks. Of these, 49,496 were claims for family care and 269,739 were for bonding.
In 2022, SB 951 (Durazo), among other things, revised the formula for determining benefits under both the SDI and PFL programs to provide an increased wage replacement rate ranging from 70-90 percent based on the individual’s wages, effective January 1, 2025.
Under current law, PFL provisions define “family member” to mean a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner. United States Census Bureau data indicate that the number of households that follow the traditional, nuclear family structure with two married parents are declining, while the number of other types of households are increasing. Census Bureau data show that California has a higher percentage of multigenerational households than the national average. According to the Pew Research Center, financial issues are the top reason people live in multigenerational households; another major driver is being able to give and receive care for an adult or child family member. Pew further notes that “Americans who are Asian, Black or Hispanic are more likely than those who are White to live in a multigenerational family household.” Immigrant populations are also more likely to live in multigenerational households. Additionally, California’s LGBTQ+ community, especially older adults, do not have any relationship with biological relatives.
The Legislature has taken action in recent years to expand access to other protected leaves to “designated persons” identified by employees. Most recently, AB 1041 (Wicks, 2022) added a “designated person” to the list of individuals for whom an employee may take leave to care for under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (Paid Sick Days). Similarly, AB 1041 (1) authorized the employee to identify the “designated person” at the time of the request for leave, and (2) additionally authorized employers to limit the employee to one designated person per 12-month period.
Proposed Law:
This bill, among other things, would do the following:
- Commencing July 1, 2027, expand eligibility for benefits under PFL to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person.
- Define “designated person” to mean any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.
- Authorize employees to identify the designated person when they file a claim for benefits.
Related Legislation:
- SB 1090 (Durazo, Chapter 876, Statutes of 2024) authorized workers to file a claim for SDI or PFL benefits up to 30 days in advance of the first compensable day of disability and requires EDD to issue payment on those claims within 14 days of receipt (per existing law) or as soon as eligibility begins for the claimant, whichever is later. This change becomes operative when they are incorporated in EDD’s integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext Project.
- AB 518 (Wicks, 2023) was nearly identical to this bill, but was amended to address a different policy area.
- AB 575 (Papan, 2023) would have made changes to PFL to extend eligibility to workers who need to take time off work to bond with a minor child within one year of assuming responsibilities of a child in loco parentis and delete restrictions relating to how individuals use their PFL benefits, as specified. The bill was vetoed by the Governor.
- AB 1041 (Wicks, Chapter 748, Statutes of 2022), expanded the list of individuals for which an employee can take leave under CFRA and the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 to include a designated person.
- SB 951 (Durazo, Chapter 878, Statutes of 2022), revised the formula for the computation of SDI and PFL benefits to increase the wage replacement available to claimants. It also removed the taxable wage ceiling, effective January 1, 2024.
- SB 1058 (Durazo, Chapter 317, Statutes of 2022), required EDD to collect demographic data, including race and ethnicity data and sexual orientation and gender identity data, for individuals who claim disability benefits under the SDI and PFL programs.
- SB 83 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Chapter 24, Statutes of 2019), beginning July 1, 2020, extended from six to eight weeks the maximum duration of PFL benefits individuals may receive.
- SB 1123 (Jackson, Chapter 849, Statutes of 2018) expanded the PFL program to include time off to participate in a qualifying exigency related to covered active duty, as defined, or call to covered active duty of the individual’s spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the armed forces.
- SB 770 (Jackson, Chapter 350, Statutes of 2013) expanded the definition of family to include in-laws, siblings, and grandparents.
Staff Comments:
The Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund balance was $1.4 billion at the close of 2023. EDD projects it will increase to $2.3 billion at the end of 2024, $2.9 billion at the end of 2025, and $4.0 billion at the end of 2026. The 2024 increase is primarily due to the SDI contribution rate increasing from 0.9 percent in 2023 to 1.1 percent in 2024, as well as previously enacted legislation, As noted above, SB 951 (Durazo, 2022) removed the Taxable Wage Ceiling as of January 1, 2024, increasing projected net worker contributions significantly. The 2025 increase is primarily due to the SDI contribution rate increasing from 1.1 percent in 2024 to 1.2 percent in 2025. The 2026 increase is primarily due to the contribution rate increasing further to a projected 1.3 percent.
-- END --
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT
Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular
Bill No: SB 590 Hearing Date: April 9, 2025
Author: | Durazo | ||
Version: | April 03, 2025 | ||
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | Yes |
Consultant: | Alma Perez-Schwab | ||
SUBJECT: Paid family leave: eligibility: care for designated persons
KEY ISSUE
This bill expands, commencing on July 1, 2027, eligibility for benefits under the Paid Family Leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person, as defined.
ANALYSIS
Existing law:
- Establishes the Employment Development Department (EDD) to, among other duties, administer the Unemployment Insurance and Disability Insurance programs. (Unemployment Insurance Code §301)
- Establishes the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program as a partial wage-replacement plan funded through employee payroll deductions that is available (through the Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave programs) to eligible individuals who are unable to work due to sickness or injury of the employee (including pregnancy), the sickness or injury of a family member, or the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a new child. (Unemployment Insurance Code §2601-3308)
- Paid Family Leave (PFL) provides eligible employees up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits within a 12-month period to worker who need to take time off work for the following reasons:
- To care for a seriously ill family member, as defined;
- To bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption;
- To participate in a qualifying event because of a family member’s military deployment.
(Unemployment Insurance Code §3301)
- PFL defines “family member” to mean a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner. (Unemployment Insurance Code §3302)
This bill:
- Commencing July 1, 2027, expands eligibility for benefits under the Paid Family Leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill designated person.
- Defines “designated person” to mean any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.
- Authorizes employees to identify the designated person when they file a claim for benefits.
- Makes conforming changes to incorporate the designated person eligibility and makes other technical gender non-conforming changes to existing provisions.
COMMENTS
1. Background
Paid Family Leave Program
The State Disability Insurance program, administered by the EDD, was created in 1946 to provide monetary benefits to workers unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. The SDI program is financed solely by worker contributions and covers approximately 18 million individuals across the state.
In 2004, California was the first state in the nation to implement a Paid Family Leave program (administered as part of SDI) that provides benefits to workers who need to take time off to care for a seriously ill family member, or to bond with a new child either from birth, adoption, or foster care placement. Effective January 1, 2021, the PFL scope was expanded to include employees taking time off work to assist a military family member under covered active duty or call to covered active duty. PFL provides up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits.
In 2022, SB 951 (Durazo, Chapter 878, Statutes of 2022) was adopted to, among other things, for claims commencing on or after January 1, 2025, revise the formula for determining benefits under both the SDI and PFL programs to provide an increased wage replacement rate ranging from 70-90 percent based on the individual’s wages.
According to EDD’s PFL Statistical Information, for fiscal year 2023-24, there were a total of 293,203 claims paid with a total of $1,907,149,815 in benefits paid. The average weekly benefit amount was $924 for approximately 7.23 weeks. Of these, 49,496 were claims for family care and 269,739 were for bonding.[1]
The importance of the “designated person”
Existing PFL provisions define “family member” to mean a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner. This definition does not reflect the changing structure of households in California and the realities of caring for each other. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the number of households in the United States that follow the traditional nuclear family structure with two married parents are declining, while the number of other types of households are increasing.[2]
The U.S. Census Bureau data shows that California has a higher percentage of multigenerational households than average. Therefore, it is not uncommon for individuals in California to be living with other relatives. According to the Pew Research Center financial issues are the top reason people live in multigenerational households with another major reason being able to give and receive care for an adult or child family member.[3] According to Pew, “Americans who are Asian, Black or Hispanic are more likely than those who are White to live in a multigenerational family household.”[4] Immigrant populations are also more likely to live in multigenerational households.
Additionally, California’s LGBTQ+ community is more likely to be impacted by current PFL definitions. Many LGBTQ+ adults, especially older adults, do not have any relationship with biological relatives. According to data from a study by the Center for American Progress, fewer than 1 in 3 respondents over age 55 reported that they would be likely to turn to biological or legally recognized family members for support when sick and would instead call upon a partner they were not married to, chosen family, or friends.[5] The study noted that 72 percent of respondents over age 55 reported that they had already been called upon to support friends or chosen family due to a health-related need.[6] Additionally, according to a survey by AARP, two-thirds of LGBTQ+ adults age 45 and over believe they will need someone to provide caregiving for them in the future and eight in ten say they are not sure they will have adequate family or social supports in their later years.[7]
In recognition of the uniqueness of California households, the Legislature has taken action in recent years to expand access to other protected leaves to “designated persons” identified by employees. Most recently, AB 1041 (Wicks, Chapter 748, Statutes of 2022) added a “designated person” to the list of individuals for whom an employee may take leave to care for under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (Paid Sick Days). Similarly, AB 1041 authorized the employee to identify the “designated person” at the time of the request for leave. AB 1041 additionally authorized employers to limit the employee to one designated person per 12-month period.
According to information shared by the author, it appears that Colorado, Connecticut, Oregon, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Washington all have paid family and medical leave laws that allow workers to care for chosen family.
2. Need for this bill?
According to the author:
“California’s Paid Family Leave program fails to meet the needs of California’s diverse families. Immigrant, LGBTQ+, older and disabled Californians often rely upon chosen and extended family for care. Yet workers are frequently excluded from using their paid family leave insurance benefits to care for a seriously ill member of their extended or chosen family.
Low wage and immigrant workers are more likely to live in multigenerational households with extended family members than other workers. Researchers have found substantial complexity in the living arrangements of undocumented migrants, who are less likely than other groups to live in simple arrangements with partners and children and much more likely to co-reside with extended family and non-biological family members.[8]
Many LGBTQ+ adults, especially older adults, do not have accessible relationships with biological relatives. In one study, 42 percent of LGBTQ+ adults said they would depend on close friends in an emergency, compared to 25 percent of the general population.[9]
A 2021 analysis from the Census Bureau found that, ‘Of the 92.2 million adults ages 55 and older in 2018, 15.2 million (16.5%) are childless.’[10] Aging adults also rely on a wide network of relationships for caregiving. Many caregivers are partners, neighbors or friends. Among Americans who provide care to an adult age 65 or older, more than 23% provide care for a friend, neighbor, or other unrelated person.[11] Among people with disabilities, 42 percent reported taking time off to care for chosen family, compared with 30 percent of people without disabilities.[12]
Most Californians cannot afford to take time off from work to care for others without paid family leave. The lack of paid family leave benefits can lead to stress, debt, and financial hardship. SB 590 will amend California’s Paid Family Leave Insurance Program to allow workers to use the benefit while caring for a seriously ill member of their chosen or extended family. SB 590 will make our PFL program more equitable for LGBTQ+, immigrant and older Californians—all of whom disproportionately rely on chosen or extended family.”
3. Proponent Arguments:
According to the sponsors, the CA Employment Lawyers Association, Equal Rights Advocates, Equality CA, Legal Aid at Work, the CA Work & Family Coalition, and AARP:
“Restrictive family definitions exclude members of the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities, as well as older adults and people with disabilities. LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities disproportionately rely on and care for chosen family. California has higher percentages of people living in multigenerational households; immigrants, people of color, and those families with financial concerns are more likely to live in multigenerational homes. In addition to trying to manage financial pressures, adults living in multigenerational homes are providing care. More than 25% of adults in multigenerational homes are providing care for another adult or for a minor child who is not theirs. There is also a significant percentage (16.5%) of older Americans who do not have children, a number that has increased over the decades. It is imperative to update our definition of family to reflect the reality of working Californians.
An inclusive definition of family is also important for survivors of domestic violence. A frequent tactic in abusive relationships is to isolate the victim from family. In order to recover from and prevent future violence, survivors may need to look outside narrowly defined family relationships to chosen family members for care.
This change is not only important for workers, but small business owners in California overwhelmingly believe it is important to have access to health and family leave benefits in order to obtain financial security. According to a poll by Small Business Majority, small business owners in California support new policies to expand Paid Family Leave, including allowing an employee to take leave to care for someone who is considered family but not related by blood or marriage.”
Additionally, they argue:
“SB 590 will have a miniscule impact on the Disability Insurance Fund (“Fund”). First, 75% of claims filed in 2021 were because of the claimant’s own health condition, meaning that only 25% of total claims are for Paid Family Leave. Of that 25%, already a fraction of total claims, only 13.4% were to care for a seriously ill family member rather than for bonding. This means that over 86% of all Paid Family Leave claims are for bonding – which is not impacted in any way by SB 590.”
4. Opponent Arguments:
None received.
5. Prior Legislation:
SB 1090 (Durazo, Chapter 876, Statutes of 2024) authorized workers to file a claim for SDI or PFL benefits up to 30 days in advance of the first compensable day of disability and requires EDD to issue payment on those claims within 14 days of receipt (per existing law) or as soon as eligibility begins for the claimant, whichever is later. This change becomes operative when they are incorporated in EDD’s integrated claims management system as part of the EDDNext Project.
AB 518 (Wicks, 2023) was nearly identical to this bill [SB 590]. That measure became a two-year bill and was gutted and amended to address another topic related to the CalFresh program in 2024.
AB 575 (Papan, 2023, Vetoed) would have made changes to the PFL program to extend eligibility to workers who need to take time off work to bond with a minor child within one year of assuming responsibilities of a child in loco parentis and delete restrictions relating to how individuals use their PFL benefits, as specified. AB 575 was vetoed by the Governor who stated, among other things, that this bill “would create pressure on the DI Trust Fund's solvency and adequacy resulting in higher disability contributions paid by employees. In addition, it contains implementation costs not accounted for in the annual budget process.”
AB 1041 (Wicks, Chapter 748, Statutes of 2022), expanded the list of individuals for which an employee can take leave under the California Family Rights Act and the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 to include a designated person.
SB 951 (Durazo, Chapter 878, Statutes of 2022), revised the formula for the computation of SDI and PFL benefits to increase the wage replacement available to claimants.
SB 1058 (Durazo, Chapter 317, Statutes of 2022), required EDD to collect demographic data, including race and ethnicity data and sexual orientation and gender identity data, for individuals who claim disability benefits under the SDI and PFL programs.
SB 83 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, Chapter 24, Statutes of 2019), beginning July 1, 2020, extended from six to eight weeks the maximum duration of PFL benefits individuals may receive.
SB 1123 (Jackson, Chapter 849, Statutes of 2018) expanded the PFL program to include time off to participate in a qualifying exigency related to covered active duty, as defined, or call to covered active duty of the individual’s spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent in the armed forces.
SB 770 (Jackson, Chapter 350, Statutes of 2013) expanded the definition of family to include in-laws, siblings, and grandparents.
SUPPORT
AARP (Co-Sponsor)
California Employment Lawyers Association (Co-Sponsor)
California Work & Family Coalition (Co-Sponsor)
Equality California (Co-Sponsor)
Equal Rights Advocates (Co-Sponsor)
Legal Aid at Work (Co-Sponsor)
A Better Balance
AAUW California
Access Reproductive Justice
ACLU California Action
Alzheimer's Association California
Alzheimer's Los Angeles
Alzheimer's Orange County
Alzheimer's San Diego
American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists - District IX
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
Asian Law Alliance
Association of California Caregiver Resource Centers
Black Women for Wellness Action Project
BreastfeedLA
California Black Chamber of Commerce
California Breastfeeding Coalition
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
California Coalition on Family Caregiving
California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls
California Domestic Workers Coalition
California Federation Business and Professional Women
California Immigrant Policy Center
California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network
California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
California WIC Association
California Women Lawyers
California Women's Law Center
Californians for Safety and Justice
CAMEO Network
Caring Across Generations
Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Central Valley Gender Health & Wellness
Centro Legal De La Raza
Child Care Law Center
Citizens for Choice
COLAGE
Consumer Attorneys of California
Courage California
Evolve California
Family Caregiver Alliance
Family Values @ Work
Family Violence Appellate Project
First 5 Association of California
First 5 California
Food Empowerment Project
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Futures Without Violence
GRACE - End Child Poverty in California
Human Impact Partners
Instituto De Educacion Popular Del Sur De California (IDEPSCA)
Insure the Uninsured Project
Jewish Center for Justice
JTMW LLC
Justice in Aging
LA Best Babies Network
Leeza's Care Connection
Los Angeles Alliance for A New Economy
Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California
Microenterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California
Mujeres Unidas Y Activas
National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
National Council of Jewish Women CA
National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles
National Domestic Workers Alliance
National Women's Political Caucus of California
Orange County Equality Coalition
Our Family Coalition
Pacific Community Ventures
Parent Voices California
Poder Latinx
Prevention Institute
Public Counsel
Reproductive Freedom for All California
Rising Communities (formerly Community Health Councils)
Sacramento LGBT Community Center
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
Santa Clara County Wage Theft Coalition
Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County
Small Business Majority
Somos Familia Valle
TechEquity Action
Thai Community Development Center
The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity
The Gala Pride & Diversity Center
The LGBTQ Community Center of The Desert
The Restaurant Opportunity Center of The Bay
The Women's Employment Rights Clinic (WERC) At GGU
UFCW Western States Council
Warehouse Worker Resource Center
Watsonville Law Center
Women Organized to Make Abuse Nonexistent (WOMAN Inc.)
Women's Foundation California
Working Partnerships USA
Worksafe
OPPOSITION
None received.
-- END --
Paid Family Leave Program Statistics, California Employment Development Department, 2024. https://edd.ca.gov/siteassets/files/about_edd/quick-stats/qspfl_pfl_program_statistics.pdf ↑
Financial Issues Top the List of Reasons U.S. Adults Live in Multigenerational Homes, Pew Research Center (March 24, 2022) https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2022/03/24/financial-issues-top-the-list-of-reasons-u-s-adults-live-in-multigenerational-homes/ ↑
Pew Research Center (March 24, 2022) ↑
“Making the Case for Chosen Family in Paid Family Leave and Medical Policies,” Lindsey Mahowald and Diana Boesch, Center for American Progress (February 16, 2021) https://www.americanprogress.org/article/making-case-chosen-family-paid-family-medical-leave-policies/ ↑
Mahowald & Boesch, Center for American Progress (February 16, 2021) ↑
“LGBTQ Adults 45+ Are Worried About Discrimination and Support as They Age,” Cassandra Cantave, AARP (June 2022) https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/life/info-2022/lgbtq-community-dignity-2022.html ↑
Matthew Hall, Kelly Musick, Youngmin Yi, Living Arrangements and Household Complexity among Undocumented Immigrants, 2019. ↑
Katherine Gallagher Robins, Laura E. Durso, Frank J. Bewkes, People Need Paid Leave Policies That Cover Chosen Family - Center for American Progress, 2017. ↑
Tayelor Valerio, Rose M. Kreider and Wan He, No Kids, No Care? Childlessness Among Older Americans, United States Census Bureau, 2021. ↑
AARP & National Alliance for Caregiving, Caregiving in the United States 2020, AARP, 2020. ↑
Kali Grant, T.J. Sutcliffe, Indivar Dutta-Gupta, and Casey Goldvale, Security & Stability: Paid Family and Medical Leave and its Importance to People with Disabilities and their Families, Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality’s Economic Security and Opportunity Initiative, 2017. ↑
Bill Author
