Committee advances bill letting state employees use six weeks paid leave to care for seriously ill family members

The State and Local Government Committee on April 2 advanced House Bill 915, which would amend Tennessee’s six-week paid leave policy for state employees to permit leave to care for a qualifying family member with a serious health condition.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Sparks, would add caring for a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, spouse, sibling or domestic partner with a serious illness or disability as an allowable reason for the existing six weeks of paid leave. The committee adopted an amendment (drafting code 5162) before considering the measure.

Supporters said the change would provide flexibility for state employees without increasing the total leave available. “This bill simply adds more flexibility to allow state employees to use the leave according to their family's needs,” Representative Sparks said during her presentation.

Ferroza Freeland, policy director at A Better Balance, told the committee the bill mirrors the federal Family and Medical Leave Act’s definition of “serious health condition” and does not increase the maximum six weeks allowed in a 12-month period. “This bill simply adds more flexibility to allow state employees to use the leave according to their family's needs,” Freeland said, arguing paid leave aids recruitment and retention.

Committee members pressed sponsor and legal staff on verification and on whether the benefit could be used more than once in a 12-month period. Matt Mundy of legal services said the bill does not specify a documentation process; appointing authorities could require documentation, or the Department of Human Resources could adopt a statewide rule. Mundy also said the law is structured so the six-week maximum applies in a 12-month period and is not cumulative across eligible reasons.

Representative Martin asked about HIPAA and medical verification; Mundy compared the process to bringing a doctor's note to an employer and said nothing in the bill would alter HIPAA constraints. Representative Butler asked whether the six weeks could be used multiple times; Mundy replied the statute allows up to six weeks in a 12-month period regardless of reason. The sponsor noted she consulted with the Department of Human Resources on the amendment language.

After debate and public testimony, the committee voted 17 ayes and 6 nays to move HB 915 to Finance, Ways and Means.

Votes and next steps: House Bill 915 was approved by the committee and will be taken up by the Finance, Ways and Means Committee.