H. B. 2272
(By Delegate Boggs)
[Introduced February 12, 2009; referred to the
Committee on Energy, Industry and Labor, Economic
Development and Small Business then Finance.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new article, designated §21-5G-1, §21-5G-2,
§21-5G-3, §21-5G-4, §21-5G-5, §21-5G-6 and §21-5G-7, all
relating to establishing the Flexible Leave Act; definitions;
application; use of leave with pay earned; prohibited acts;
and affect on leave granted under the Federal Family and
Medical Leave Act of 1993.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new article, designated §21-5G-1, §21-5G-2,
§21-5G-3, §21-5G-4, §21-5G-5, §21-5G-6 and §21-5G-7, all to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 5G. FLEXIBLE LEAVE ACT.
§21-5G-1. Short title.
This article shall be known as the "Flexible Leave Act."
§21-5G-2. Definitions.
As used in this article:
(1) "Employer" means a person engaged in a business, industry,
profession, trade or other enterprise in the state. "Employer"
includes a person who acts directly or indirectly in the interest
of another employer with an employee.
(2) "Immediate family" includes a child, spouse and parent.
(3) "Leave with pay" means any time away from work for which
an employee receives compensation. "Leave with pay" includes sick
leave, vacation time and compensatory time.
§21-5G-3. Application.
This section applies to an employer that provides leave with
pay under the terms of: (1) A collective bargaining agreement; or
(2) an employment policy.
§21-5G-4. Use of leave with pay.
An employee of an employer may use leave with pay for an
illness in the employee's immediate family.
§21-5G-5. Leave with pay available for use.
(a) An employee may only use leave with pay under this article
that has been earned.
(b) An employee who earns more than one type of leave with pay
may elect the type and amount of leave with pay to be used under
this article.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), an employee who uses leave under this section shall comply with the terms of a
collective bargaining agreement or employment policy.
(d) If the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with an
employer or an employment policy of an employer provide a leave
with pay benefit that is equal to or greater than the benefit
provided under this section, the collective bargaining agreement or
employment policy prevails.
§21-5G-6. Prohibited acts.
An employer may not discharge, demote, suspend, discipline or
otherwise discriminate against an employee or threaten to take any
of these actions against an employee:
(1) Who exercises rights granted under this article; or
(2) Who files a complaint, testifies against or assists in an
action brought against the employer for a violation of this
article.
§21-5G-7. Article not to affect Federal Family and Medical Leave
Act.
This article does not affect leave granted under the Federal
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish the Flexible
Leave Act allowing for the use of earned leave with pay for an
illness in an employee's immediate family.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.