[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5017 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5017
To direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a grant program to award
grants to States to carry out a paid leave program, to establish the
Interstate Paid Leave Action Network, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 16, 2026
Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a grant program to award
grants to States to carry out a paid leave program, to establish the
Interstate Paid Leave Action Network, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``More Paid Leave for More Americans
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) Qualifying reason.--The term ``qualifying reason''
means, in relation to an individual, a reason described in
subparagraphs (A) through (D) of section 102(a)(1) of the
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1))
(applied for purposes of this paragraph as if the individual
involved were the employee referred to in such section).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Labor.
TITLE I--STATE PAID LEAVE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Average weekly earnings.--The term ``average weekly
earnings'', with respect to an individual, means the quotient
obtained by dividing--
(A) the annual earnings of the individual, by
(B) 52.
(2) Covered partnership.--
(A) In general.--The term ``covered partnership''
means--
(i) a partnership between a State and at
least one private entity in which that private
entity handles at least one specific function
integral to the provision of the paid leave
program benefits (such as the benefit
application process or the payment of benefit
claims) as described in section 102(d); or
(ii) with respect to a State described in
subparagraph (B), the State and every employer
covered by the paid leave program of the State.
(B) Certain states.--For purposes of subparagraph
(A)(ii), a State described in this subparagraph is a
State in which the paid leave program of the State--
(i) allows employers in the State that are
covered by the State paid leave program to
self-administer the payment of paid leave
program benefits to eligible employees of the
employer; and
(ii) requires any such employer that self-
administers such payment to--
(I) meet or exceed the requirements
of the State paid leave program; and
(II) provide paid leave program
benefits to all employees of the
employer who meet the eligibility
requirements of the State paid leave
program.
(3) Earnings.--The term ``earnings'', with respect to an
individual, means all compensation for employment that is
considered under the applicable State unemployment compensation
law for the purpose of calculating the amount of unemployment
compensation for the individual.
(4) Eligible employee.--The term ``eligible employee''
means an employee who meets the eligibility requirements of the
State paid leave program of the State in which the employee
works.
(5) Eligible state paid leave program.--The term ``eligible
State paid leave program'' means a program described in section
102(d).
(6) Employer.--The term ``employer'' means an employer
covered by the State paid leave program of the State in which
the employer operates.
(7) FLSA terms.--The terms ``employ'' and ``employee'' have
the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203).
(8) State.--The term ``State'' includes any State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands.
SEC. 102. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATE PAID LEAVE PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and administer a
competitive grant program to provide grants to States that have enacted
a law establishing an eligible paid leave program as described in
subsection (d).
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, a State shall have enacted a State law establishing an
eligible State paid leave program.
(c) Application.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including a
description of how the funds will be used, the working
population of the State, the percentage of the State's working
population that is able to access a paid leave benefit, and the
source of such benefit.
(2) Priority.--
(A) In general.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Secretary shall prioritize States--
(i) that, as of the date of enactment of
this Act, did not already have established a
paid leave benefits program;
(ii) that participate in the Interstate
Paid Leave Action Network established by
section 202(a);
(iii) that provide paid leave benefits for
the reasons described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B) of section 102(a)(1) of the Family and
Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C.
2612(a)(1));
(iv) that indicate in the application
submitted under paragraph (1) that the covered
partnership will use software that is a
commercially available off-the-shelf item (as
defined in part 2.101 of the Federal
Acquisition Regulation) to administer benefits
that will produce cost-savings for the State;
(v) that have, relative to other States
that have submitted an application in a given
year, a lower percentage of the working
population of the State that have access to a
paid leave benefit at the time of the
submission of the application;
(vi) that demonstrate in the application
that the State has a plan to implement a
financing mechanism that does not have long-
term reliance on Federal funding; or
(vii) that demonstrate in the application
how the State paid leave program serves low-
income populations.
(B) Consideration prohibition.--The Secretary may
not consider whether a State provides benefits in
excess of those required under subsection (d) when
deciding which States shall receive a grant under this
title.
(d) Paid Leave Program Requirements.--
(1) Program requirements.--An eligible State paid leave
program shall, at a minimum--
(A) provide, through a covered partnership, not
less than 6 weeks of paid leave benefit to eligible
employees in a 12 month period for at least one
qualifying reason;
(B) annually establish a weekly maximum benefit
amount that is equal to 150 percent of the State's
average weekly wage (based on the most recent calendar
year for which data is available from the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages program of the Bureau of
Labor Statistics);
(C) require the establishment and use of a covered
partnership;
(D) establish premium rates or a financing method
to fund the paid leave program for employees,
employers, or both to pay;
(E) establish criteria for an individual to be
classified as an employee for purposes of such program
that would include, at minimum, any eligible employee,
as such term is defined in section 101 of the Family
and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2611); and
(F) establish criteria for a person to be
classified as an employer for purposes of such program
that would include, at minimum, any person described in
clause (i) or (ii) of section 101(A) of the Family and
Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2611(A)).
(2) Paid leave benefit.--A paid leave benefit under
paragraph (1) that is provided to an eligible employee shall,
at a minimum, include weekly compensation in an amount (not to
exceed the amount described in paragraph (1)(B)) equal to the
product of the average weekly earnings of the eligible employee
and--
(A) in the case of an eligible employee whose
earnings for the 4 most recently completed calendar
quarters that immediately precede the paid leave
benefit request are less than or equal to the poverty
line (as defined in section 673 of the Community
Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902)) applicable
to a 4-person household, not less than 67 percent;
(B) in the case of an eligible employee whose
earnings for such calendar quarters are more than such
poverty line, but less than the amount that is double
such poverty line, a percentage not less than--
(i) 67 percent, minus
(ii) the product of--
(I) 17 percent; and
(II) the percentage by which the
employee's earnings exceed such poverty
line; or
(C) in the case of any other eligible employee, 50
percent.
(3) Recalculation of benefit amount.--The weekly
compensation calculated under paragraph (2) for an eligible
employee shall be recalculated each time such employee applies
for a paid leave benefit.
(4) Employees with multiple employers.--An eligible State
paid leave program shall provide that, in the case that an
employee is employed by multiple employers, such an employee
shall be entitled to receive a paid leave benefit from each
employer, but the employee may not receive a total combined
weekly benefit in excess of the maximum benefit amount
established by the State pursuant to paragraph (1)(B).
(5) Employer self-administration flexibility.--An eligible
State paid leave program shall, in the case that the program
includes a requirement for employer participation, provide that
the employer may self-administer paid leave benefits to
eligible employees if such benefits meet or exceed the benefits
available under the eligible State paid leave program of such
State.
(6) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall
be construed to limit the ability of a State to provide
additional paid leave benefits in excess of the benefits
required to be provided under this subsection, including--
(A) benefits for reasons other than the reasons
described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of section
102(a)(1) of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
(29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1));
(B) benefits in amounts in excess of amounts
provided under this subsection; or
(C) benefits for individuals other than eligible
employees.
(e) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section may be used by
States for the following purposes:
(1) Start up costs for the implementation of the eligible
State paid leave program.
(2) To pay out benefits to eligible employees, but only for
a qualifying reason.
(3) To fund the covered partnership.
(4) Paid leave program design.
(5) Purchasing and maintaining any necessary software.
(6) Establishing a covered partnership.
(7) Obtaining technical assistance for the State or the
covered partnership to carry out the eligible State paid leave
program.
(8) Outreach to employers, payroll providers, relevant
professional or trade associations, and the general public to
increase awareness of the State's eligible State paid leave
program and to convey relevant information such as program
eligibility, funding requirements, benefit information, the
application process, and any other information the State
determines relevant.
(9) Other activities to disseminate information about, and
otherwise support, the accessibility of the State's eligible
State paid leave program, including the operation and
maintenance of a program website, running a call center, and
sending marketing materials on the State's covered partnership
to the groups described in paragraph (8).
(10) Research to inform the establishment and operation of
the State's eligible State paid leave program, including
program evaluations, and the dissemination of such research to
the public.
(11) To evaluate existing programs and models.
(12) To reduce administrative burdens on employers in the
State.
(f) Grant Amounts.--
(1) In general.--In determining the amount of a grant to be
provided to a State, the Secretary shall consider--
(A) the size of the working population of the State
relative to the size of the working population of the
other States that are receiving a grant;
(B) the birth rate of the State relative to the
other such States;
(C) the share of low-income individuals in the
State; and
(D) the demonstrated need of a State in the grant
application.
(2) Limits.--A grant provided under this section may not be
less than $1,500,000 and may not be more than $7,000,000.
SEC. 103. OVERSIGHT.
(a) Report.--Not later than 1 year after a State receives a grant
under this title, and on an annual basis thereafter, the State shall
submit to the Secretary, and make publicly available, a report on--
(1) how the State has used the grant funds; and
(2) the number of individuals in the State that have used
paid leave benefits as a result of the grant program described
in section 102.
(b) Annual Report.--The Secretary shall, on an annual basis
beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date the Secretary
receives the first report under subsection (a), submit a report to the
appropriate committees on the progress of States establishing paid
leave programs, the modification of existing paid leave programs, and
any changes in the levels of access workers have to paid leave benefits
in each State that receives a grant under section 102.
(c) Audit Required.--Not later than 1 year after a State receives a
grant under section 102, and on an annual basis thereafter, the
Inspector General of the Department of Labor shall conduct audits on
States that received such a grant to determine whether such States--
(1) are using the grant funds in compliance with the
requirements described in section 102(e); and
(2) are engaging in any waste, fraud, or abuse.
(d) Appropriate Committees Defined.--In this section, the term
``appropriate committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Education and Workforce, the Committee
on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate.
SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this title for each of fiscal years 2027 through
2029.
TITLE II--I-PLAN
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) BLS.--The term ``BLS'' means the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
(2) Employer paid leave benefits program.--The term
``employer paid leave benefits program'' means a program that--
(A) is provided by an employer to the employees of
such employer (whether directly, under a contract with
an insurer, or provided through a multiemployer plan);
(B) is an option for an employer within the
structure of a State paid leave benefits program in
such State; and
(C) meets or exceeds the requirements of the State
paid leave benefits program of the State in which such
employee is employed.
(3) I-PLAN.--The term ``I-PLAN'' means the Interstate Paid
Leave Action Network established in section 202(a).
(4) I-PLAN agreement.--The term ``I-PLAN Agreement'' means
the interstate agreement produced pursuant to section 202(b).
(5) National intermediary.--The term ``national
intermediary'' means a national nongovernmental workforce
organization that has extensive experience partnering with the
Department of Labor to operate interstate technological systems
and the electronic transmission of information and data for
State workforce agencies and employers.
(6) Paid leave.--The term ``paid leave'' means an increment
of compensated leave that is provided, in the case of a State
paid leave benefits program, by such State or, in the case of
an employer plan paid leave benefits program, by such employer
for use during a period in which such individual is not working
due to a qualifying reason.
(7) State focal.--The term ``State focal'' means, with
respect to a State, an individual--
(A) designated by the State agency in charge of
such State's paid leave benefits program to--
(i) participate in the I-PLAN;
(ii) lead such State's efforts to adopt and
implement the I-PLAN Agreement; and
(iii) communicate with key paid leave
stakeholders across the State; and
(B) who--
(i) is employed by such State's paid leave
benefits program; and
(ii) has knowledge, experience, and
authority in paid leave matters.
(8) State paid leave benefits program.--The ``State paid
leave benefits program'' means a program under State law that
provides, during any 24-month period, a total of not less than
6 weeks of paid leave to individuals--
(A) for each qualifying reason; and
(B) in aggregate.
SEC. 202. INTERSTATE PAID LEAVE ACTION NETWORK.
(a) In General.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established an Interstate Paid
Leave Action Network, the purpose of which is to provide
support and incentives for the development and adoption of an
interstate agreement in accordance with this title to benefit
employees, States, and employers by--
(A) facilitating streamlined benefit delivery;
(B) reducing administrative burden; and
(C) coordinating and harmonizing State programs.
(2) Membership.--The I-PLAN shall include a State focal
from each State receiving a conforming grant under section
204(a).
(3) Meetings.--The I-PLAN shall meet not less than 3 times
in each calendar year.
(4) Processes.--
(A) Certification.--States shall certify to the
Secretary their participation in the I-PLAN.
(B) Procedures.--State focals may determine, in
coordination with the Secretary, the process for each
of the following:
(i) The order in which States approach the
substance of each I-PLAN requirement.
(ii) The process by which States reach
consensus on such substance and agree to the I-
PLAN Agreement.
(iii) The process by which a State may
leave the I-PLAN.
(iv) Other processes relevant to the
success and administration of the I-PLAN as the
Secretary determines.
(5) Roadmap.--The I-PLAN shall develop, and annually
update, a roadmap for developing and implementing the
interstate agreement described in subsection (b), including
metrics for success.
(b) Duties.--The duty of the I-PLAN shall be to produce an
interstate agreement into which States offering a State paid leave
benefits program may enter and to periodically update such agreement as
necessary to improve clarity and scope. Such agreement shall be
publicly available and pursue each of the following requirements:
(1) Policy standard.--Create a single policy standard with
respect to all participating States to facilitate easier
compliance with and understanding of paid leave programs across
States, including definitions for the following:
(A) Benefit day, week, and year.
(B) Base period.
(C) Intermittent and reduced schedule leave.
(D) Place of performance.
(E) Family members.
(F) Employee eligibility.
(G) Employee coverage.
(H) Waiting period.
(I) Covered wage.
(2) Administrative standard.--Create a single
administrative standard with respect to all participating
States to facilitate easier compliance with and understanding
of paid leave programs across States, including--
(A) the process by which employers respond to
requests from States to verify and provide employee
information for eligibility determinations, including
wages and work history;
(B) the process by which employers provide periodic
and permanent notice of the availability of paid leave
under a State paid leave benefits program or employer
paid leave benefits program to employees;
(C) employees' responsibility to provide notices of
leave to their employers;
(D) timing of and process for collecting payroll
contributions;
(E) coordinating with other types of paid time off
and leaves of absence;
(F) continuing other benefits;
(G) accessing employee leave information;
(H) protecting personal information;
(I) creating and updating written leave materials
such as handbooks;
(J) maintaining records and documentation; and
(K) if a State program permits employers to elect
to provide employer paid leave benefits programs,
facilitating such election, including by creating a
single equivalency standard with respect to all
participating States to determine whether the maximum
monetary value of an employer paid leave benefits
program for the average weekly wage of workers in the
State for total covered establishments in all
industries (based on the most recent calendar year for
which data are available from the Quarterly Census of
Employment and Wages program of the BLS) is greater
than or equal to the maximum monetary value of a State
program (or that of multiple States), taking into
account programmatic elements such as--
(i) how benefit duration, wage replacement,
absence of a weekly benefit cap, absence of a
waiting week, and other factors interact in a
quantitative manner; and
(ii) how an individual taking paid leave
for a qualifying reason affects the ability of
such individual to take paid leave for another
qualifying reason.
(3) Coordination of benefits across state programs.--Create
a single process for State programs to process claims for an
individual who has work history across multiple participating
States so that a single State program may provide benefits to
such individual on the basis of all such work history.
SEC. 203. NATIONAL INTERMEDIARY TO SUPPORT THE INTERSTATE PAID LEAVE
ACTION NETWORK.
(a) Authority To Make Grants.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations under section 205(a), the Secretary, acting through the
Employment and Training Administration, shall award a grant to one
national intermediary to facilitate the activities of the I-PLAN.
(b) Use of Funds.--A national intermediary awarded a grant under
subsection (a) shall use funds for the costs related to each of the
following:
(1) Meetings.--Meeting activities, including--
(A) convening the State focals as described in
section 202(a)(3), including reasonable travel,
transportation, and other expenses of State focals and
staff of the national intermediary (and any necessary
accompanying State personnel);
(B) making publicly available information on the
agendas and outcomes of such meetings; and
(C)(i) not later than 12 months after the date of
enactment of this title, making publicly available the
roadmap described under section 202(a)(5); and
(ii) making any updates to such roadmap publicly
available.
(2) Annual report.--Producing and making publicly available
on an annual basis a report that compares State programs,
including information on--
(A) benefit eligibility;
(B) the maximum number of weeks an eligible
employee is allowed to receive benefits--
(i) for each qualifying reason; and
(ii) in aggregate;
(C) wage replacement rate and how that may vary
based on prior earnings;
(D) maximum weekly benefit amount;
(E) how such programs are financed by employees and
employers, including the payroll tax rate and amount of
wages subject to tax;
(F) whether and how such programs allow employers
to provide employer paid leave benefits programs,
taking into consideration elements such as--
(i) benefit payment timeliness; and
(ii) employer and employee administrative
complexity;
(G) whether and how such programs coordinate with
other types of paid-time off and leaves of absence;
(H) the reasons, including qualifying reasons,
under which an individual is eligible to take paid
leave; and
(I) other activities essential for the success,
effectiveness, and sustainability of the I-PLAN.
(3) Outreach and coordination.--Engagement, consulting, and
gathering relevant information in coordination with I-PLAN
States from a wide range of external stakeholders, including--
(A) State legislatures;
(B) Governors;
(C) employees;
(D) representatives of employers, including--
(i) employers with employees in multiple
States; and
(ii) employers with fewer than 50
employees;
(E) self-employed individuals;
(F) policy experts and other organizations with
expertise on paid leave and unemployment compensation
programs; and
(G) Tribal governments.
(4) Standardized and interoperable technology system for
wages.--Providing a standardized technology-based system to
facilitate States' ability to carry out the I-PLAN Agreement,
allowing States to process interstate claims and strengthen
program integrity, that--
(A) adopts or leverages modular technology that--
(i) ensures privacy, security, and prompt
data availability;
(ii) enhances and streamlines the claimant,
employer, and participating State experience;
and
(iii) is interoperable with other relevant
State systems; and
(B) permits States to report on, to the extent
reasonable and technologically feasible, and
disaggregated by qualifying reason, on trends such as--
(i) the number of initial and continued
benefit claims;
(ii) average duration of benefits;
(iii) average weekly benefit amount;
(iv) average time between filing a claim
and receiving an initial benefit payment; and
(v) the accuracy of benefit payment
amounts.
(5) Additional uses.--Additional activities, including--
(A) hiring and compensating staff;
(B) formulating guidance, recommendations, and best
practices for States;
(C) providing training on program administration;
(D) providing technical assistance to States; and
(E) creating or leveraging technology essential for
the success and effectiveness of the I-PLAN.
(c) Duration of Award.--Subject to subsection (d)(4), the period
during which payments are made to an entity from an award of a grant
under subsection (a) shall be 5 years.
(d) National Intermediary Oversight.--The Secretary shall--
(1) monitor the national intermediary to ensure compliance
with the requirements of this title;
(2) provide technical assistance to assist the national
intermediary with such compliance;
(3) require regular reports on the performance of the
national intermediary, including on the roadmap under section
202(a)(5), the use of funds under section 203(b), and other
methods of evaluation; and
(4) annually evaluate whether the national intermediary is
complying with the requirements of this title and, if the
Secretary determines that the national intermediary is not so
complying, withhold any payment or part of the payment to the
national intermediary under this section for the following
fiscal year unless and until the Secretary determines the
national intermediary has remedied such compliance issue.
SEC. 204. GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE STATES.
(a) Conforming Grants.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Authority to make grants.--Subject to the
availability of appropriations under section 205(b),
the Secretary, acting through the Employment and
Training Administration, shall, on an annual basis,
make a conforming grant to each eligible State.
(B) Amount of grant.--
(i) In general.--A grant to an eligible
State under this subsection shall be--
(I) not less than $1,500,000 and
not more than $8,000,000; and
(II) subject to subclause (I),
awarded on the basis of the relative
annual level of employment (as
published by the Current Employment
Statistics program of the BLS) of the
eligible State, compared to the annual
level of employment in all eligible
States.
(ii) Adjustment.--The amounts specified in
clause (i) shall be ratably increased or
decreased to the extent that funds available
under section 205(b) exceed or are less than
(respectively) the amount required to provide
the amounts specified in clause (i).
(2) Eligible states.--
(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under paragraph (1), a State shall--
(i) have a State focal; and
(ii) participate in the I-PLAN in good
faith.
(B) Good faith requirement.--
(i) Withholding.--If the Secretary, in
consultation with the national intermediary
awarded the grant under section 203(a),
determines that a State is not participating in
the I-PLAN in good faith, the Secretary--
(I) shall provide warning and
feedback to States in a prompt manner;
and
(II) if, 180 days after the date on
which the Secretary provides such
warning and feedback, the Secretary
determines such State continues not to
participate in the I-PLAN in good
faith, the Secretary may elect to
withhold a portion or the total amount
of a grant under paragraph (1) to such
State.
(ii) Restoration.--If the Secretary elects
to withhold an amount from a State under clause
(i)(II), the Secretary may later elect to
provide the amount so withheld to such State if
the Secretary later determines that such State
is participating in good faith.
(b) Implementation Grants.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Authority to make grants.--Subject to the
availability of appropriations under section 205(c),
the Secretary, acting through the Employment and
Training Administration, shall, on an annual basis,
make an implementation grant to each eligible State.
(B) Amount of grant.--
(i) In general.--A grant to an eligible
State under this subsection shall be--
(I) not less than $1,500,000 and
not more than $8,000,000; and
(II) subject to subclause (I),
awarded on the basis of the relative
annual level of employment (as
published by Current Employment
Statistics program of the BLS) of the
eligible State, compared to the annual
level of employment in all eligible
States.
(ii) Adjustment.--The amounts specified in
clause (i) shall be ratably increased or
decreased to the extent that funds available
under section 205(c) exceed or are less than
(respectively) the amount required to provide
the amounts specified in clause (i).
(2) Eligibility.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), to be
eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), a
State shall--
(i) meet the requirements of subsection
(a)(2)(A); and
(ii) have entered into the I-PLAN
Agreement.
(B) Limitation.--A State described in subparagraph
(A) shall be ineligible to receive a grant for any
fiscal year beginning after the date that is 4 years
after the date on which such State enters into the I-
PLAN Agreement in which such State does not meet the
requirements of such Agreement.
(c) Use of Funds.--A State may use grants received under this
section--
(1) to help pay administrative costs, including costs
related to--
(A) customer service;
(B) staffing and training;
(C) technology;
(D) data sharing;
(E) identity validation; and
(F) program awareness; and
(2) to help small businesses, as defined by the State,
afford employer payroll contributions or access other forms of
technical and operational assistance related to State paid
leave.
SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) National Intermediary Grant.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the purposes of section
203 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2029.
(b) Conforming Grants.--There are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as may be necessary for the purposes of section 204(a) for
each of fiscal years 2027 through 2029.
(c) Implementation Grants.--There are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as may be necessary for the purposes of section 204(b) for
each of fiscal years 2027 through 2029.
<all>