South Carolina has passed a Paid Family Leave Insurance Act, allowing South Carolina employees to receive up to two weeks of income replacement benefits for leave they take in connection with a qualifying family leave event. Such leave is voluntary, meaning employers are not required to provide paid leave but may choose to do so.
Qualifying family leave events include:
- Participating in providing care, including physical or psychological care, for a family member of the employee made necessary by a serious health condition of the family member;
- Bonding with the employee’s child during the first twelve months after the child’s birth, or the first twelve months after the placement of the child for adoption or foster care with the employee;
- Addressing a qualifying exigency as interpreted under the Family and Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 2612(a)(1)(e) and 29 C.F.R. Section 825.126(a)(1)-(8), arising out of the fact that the spouse, child, or parent of the employee is on active duty, or has been notified of an impending call or order to active duty, in the Armed Forces of the United States;
- Caring for a family service member injured in the line of duty; or
- Taking other leave to provide care for a family member or other family leave as specified in the policy of insurance.
Eligibility for family leave benefits may be limited, excluded, or reduced, as set forth in the policy of insurance.
The Act is effective immediately.
