46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE; ENACTING THE FAMILY LEAVE ACT; PROVIDING FOR FAMILY LEAVE FOR EMPLOYEES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO GRANT FAMILY LEAVE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Family Leave Act".

Section 2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Family Leave Act:

A. "child" means a biological, adopted or foster child, a legal ward or a child of a person standing in loco parentis who is:

(1) under the age of eighteen years; or

(2) eighteen years of age or older and incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability;

B. "grandparent" means a parent of a parent of an employee;

C. "parent" means a biological parent of an employee or an individual who stood in loco parentis to an employee when the employee was a child;

D. "parent-in-law" means a parent of the spouse of an employee;

E. "sick leave or other paid time off" means time allowed pursuant to the terms of an appropriate collective bargaining agreement or employer policy, as applicable, to an employee for illness, vacation or personal holiday; and

F. "spouse" means a husband or wife.

Section 3. RIGHT TO FAMILY LEAVE.--

A. If, pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement or employer policy applicable to an employee, the employee is entitled to sick leave or other paid time off, then an employer shall allow an employee to use the employee's choice of sick leave or other paid time off to care for:

(1) a child of the employee with a health condition that requires treatment or supervision; or

(2) a spouse, parent, parent-in-law, or grandparent of the employee who has a serious health condition or an emergency condition.

B. An employee may not take advance leave until it has been earned.

C. An employee taking leave under the circumstances described in this section shall comply with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement or employer policy applicable to the leave, except for terms relating to the choice of leave.

D. Use of leave other than accrued sick leave or other paid time off to care for a child, spouse, parent, parent-in-law or grandparent under the circumstances described in this section shall be governed by the terms of the appropriate collective bargaining agreement or employer policy as applicable.

Section 3. PROHIBITION OF DISCHARGE.--An employer shall not discharge, threaten to discharge, demote, suspend, discipline or otherwise discriminate against an employee because the employee:

A. has exercised, or attempted to exercise, a right provided pursuant to the Family Leave Act; or

B. has filed a complaint, testified or assisted in a proceeding pursuant to the Family Leave Act.

Section 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2003.