Rep. Emily Krasnow presents Short Form Bill H‑461 to broaden unpaid leave and add safe‑leave protections

Representative Emily Krasnow, House General & Housing committee member, introduced Short Form Bill H‑461 on March 11, saying the measure would amend Title 21 of the Vermont statutes to expand unpaid leave definitions and add protections for employees experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

Krasnow said the bill “amends various sections [of] Title 21 of the Vermont statutes to expand employee access to unpaid leave, ensuring that all workers, particularly those in nontraditional family structures, LGBTQ plus families have equitable access to ... family and caregiving need.” She described the changes as broadening the definition of family members, updating bereavement and domestic‑partner definitions, and adding safe‑leave provisions.

The bill would align bereavement and domestic‑violence leave with other forms of unpaid leave and would remove a reporting mechanism that Krasnow said could force employees to disclose sensitive personal information. “In this version, we will not be having a reporting mechanism,” Krasnow said, adding concern that requiring information about orientation or family structure could be “counterproductive for an employee.”

Committee members asked how employers would document eligibility for sensitive reasons. Vice Chair Bartley asked whether an employer policy must report those sensitive issues to qualify for unpaid leave. Committee staff and members explained that the state and federal family‑leave paperwork would likely need edits to add a safe‑leave category and that physicians or other certifying providers already complete portions of leave documentation. Cameron Wood of the Office of Legislative Counsel noted section‑level language on notice and documentation and said staff would walk the committee through specifics.

A committee member who identified herself as working in human resources welcomed the changes and said bereavement policy questions arise frequently in her work; she supported the committee walkthrough by staff and thanked Krasnow for the draft. Krasnow said staffer Sophie would do a detailed walkthrough and the committee planned further consideration.

No formal vote occurred on H‑461 during this meeting. Committee direction recorded in the session: staff to provide a walkthrough of the bill text (Sophie to present); committee members to review documentation language and to reconvene on timing for further edits.

The committee transitioned from the H‑461 presentation to consideration of the committee’s housing omnibus bill later in the same meeting.

Ending: The bill remains under committee review; staff will present an implementation and documentation walkthrough at a subsequent meeting and the committee will consider revisions after that staff briefing.