Paid Family / Medical Leave

View the Bill (HB 661-FN)

This bill creates a family leave insurance program to allow parents to take time off to care for a newborn or newly placed child, or to allow persons to care for a family member with a serious medical condition, including a wounded service member receiving medical treatment or therapy as an outpatient. The bill applies to companies with 50 or more employees and establishes the benefit at $250/week for up to 6 weeks. The Department of Employment Security is the designated agency to administer the program and financing is contingent on the availability of federal funds for start-up, development and marketing of a self-pay system.

Please Vote YES for small businesses and our workers on HB 661 Family Leave Insurance

Working Together for NH’s Economic Sustainability:

• Level the Playing Field for NH Small Businesses
• Ensure that New Hampshire’s Workers Don’t Need to Choose Between a Paycheck and a Loved One
• Peace of Mind for Hard Working Families and for Businesses during Tough Times

What does this bill do?

HB 661-FN Establishes Family Leave Insurance funded by federal dollars and pennies a week from workers themselves—not from employers. Under the existing system NH Employment Security will provide up to $250 per week to full time employees.

Who will this bill help?

The Backbone of NH’s Economy: A majority of small businesses (50+ employees) consider finding and retaining qualified workers to be one of the most significant challenges to the growth and survival of their business. A family leave insurance system in New Hampshire will help small businesses meet this critical challenge—at no cost to businesses. Many NH small business owners feel at a disadvantage in competing against larger companies to recruit and retain talented, qualified employees.

Hardworking NH families: It will provide all workers with a paycheck they can’t afford to go without at times when they can’t possibly choose between a job and their family—such as when a child is seriously ill or when a worker’s parent or spouse is gravely sick and needs care; or when there is a new child who must bond with a family member. It is simply unfair to ask hard working Granite Staters to choose between their own economic security and providing necessary care for a loved family member.

View our Resources on this topic!