<enum>I</enum><header>State Paid Leave Public-Private Partnership</header><section commented="no" id="HC1C9DC13A630425E9330C4350DFD14D0"><enum>101.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="H6DF570EC8FEF41AF932D5F168ADF3520"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Average weekly earnings</header><text>The term <term>average weekly earnings</term>, with respect to an individual, means the quotient obtained by dividing—</text><subparagraph id="H92E158BCE970400CB9DA7685052E48E6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the annual earnings of the individual, by</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8947E1AB241C486DBA0297A11265F123"><enum>(B)</enum><text>52.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id213060d31401467d886b9ca96588159c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered partnership</header><subparagraph id="idcb632a6b24ae4de88fbda1c3d3016479"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>covered partnership</term> means—</text><clause id="iddbfb460cb476468ab0a6b40231f207a8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>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</text></clause><clause id="id0251c11571804a689fe7f2c6f006f1cc"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>with respect to a State described in subparagraph (B), the State and every employer covered by the paid leave program of the State.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcaa09f11d482416687aac2bc53cf7e69"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Certain states</header><text>For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), a State described in this subparagraph is a State in which the paid leave program of the State—</text><clause id="idf80e3df99ed94e74982417d1075b5308"><enum>(i)</enum><text>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</text></clause><clause id="id17e1f032dd814a2bbf7c1ce2b43d4343"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>requires any such employer that self-administers such payment to—</text><subclause id="idc94d6bd0c7b64197931d5a424be33e9a"><enum>(I)</enum><text>meet or exceed the requirements of the State paid leave program; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id6c208aa2f2904b19adf1e8710cac5677"><enum>(II)</enum><text>provide paid leave program benefits to all employees of the employer who meet the eligibility requirements of the State paid leave program.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H0E7A067A57F04A6ABB34C2C08659AEA5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Earnings</header><text>The term <term>earnings</term>, 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.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5B9B33C2A4814E52A8DF7635F428A12E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Eligible employee</header><text>The term <term>eligible employee</term> means an employee who meets the eligibility requirements of the State paid leave program of the State in which the employee works.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8021f9bcf88d446b86530b13bba975b8"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Eligible State paid leave program</header><text>The term <term>eligible State paid leave program</term> means a program described in section 102(d).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5ADB82A3D506436692E21B561C9CFEA7"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Employer</header><text>The term <term>employer</term> means an employer covered by the State paid leave program of the State in which the employer operates.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H789FD81920694777A9B80061804CC2EA"><enum>(7)</enum><header>FLSA terms</header><text>The terms <term>employ</term> and <term>employee</term> have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/203">29 U.S.C. 203</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2D7BFA3A199846D98738671AB52ED604"><enum>(8)</enum><header>State</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>State</term> 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.</text></paragraph></section><section section-type="subsequent-section" id="H9FA3A15242764C49BD496F837E1F3CFA"><enum>102.</enum><header>Establishment of the State Paid Leave Public-Private Partnership Grant Program</header><subsection id="HE08A78EC7B164F6E8DD15AF3006CA68F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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).</text></subsection><subsection id="id51c75b27f99a4a3498cbbc8d80f2aac3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>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.</text></subsection><subsection id="H3918652BAAEE4E4BB37912C479F8F692"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application</header><paragraph commented="no" id="HCB89E239AF8E48C886E921ACFC5C8B26"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H37EBFFFC6583441AA670D3960FFF517B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Priority</header><subparagraph id="id762efb6f4cc14ca58d205f863c71c198"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize States—</text><clause id="id409d798591f4419bad5ee5aaa93d3578"><enum>(i)</enum><text>that, as of the date of enactment of this Act, did not already have established a paid leave benefits program;</text></clause><clause id="id76805d2b2b2242e5b765f6ae14015941"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that participate in the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network established by section 202(a);</text></clause><clause id="idbb30a4c36e0649c4969007ae5609ffbc"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2612">29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1)</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="idd2ece709bc1f4c2a839a571c4e1bd1ea"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>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;</text></clause><clause id="ide43d563cf30f475a860781ee700d1183"><enum>(v)</enum><text>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;</text></clause><clause id="id11ded2e6c0be446396cc8f2720c068a4"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>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</text></clause><clause id="id732448a1a3b542f1a1f83d5c9c8f8ac6"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>that demonstrate in the application how the State paid leave program serves low-income populations.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4D87E08B7A8D4B609465A7AE70C4491B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Consideration prohibition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HED3ADC849BB94C06BB57B2CB4D2554FA"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Paid leave program requirements</header><paragraph id="H08112495B7894E8AA898723091BA3CF8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Program requirements</header><text>An eligible State paid leave program shall, at a minimum—</text><subparagraph id="id4e5d49954d79435b9fd0d63b20f01d71"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcdb0fa175ced4cc781634ac4075d22b7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ideb11307c00674949b2a992936d467149" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>require the establishment and use of a covered partnership;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id716525620d3d483484dcba4a4b50e3dd" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>establish premium rates or a financing method to fund the paid leave program for employees, employers, or both to pay;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc081e4a9cfed410693c60284c08f936c"><enum>(E)</enum><text>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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2611">29 U.S.C. 2611</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idab494a24a04e4bb6bf8a4746175af365"><enum>(F)</enum><text>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)).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H66166EC6A0FA442D99D270840FDD2567"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Paid leave benefit</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text><subparagraph id="H7B963B9A991840148BA4173F9826E6A4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/9902">42 U.S.C. 9902</external-xref>)) applicable to a 4-person household, not less than 67 percent;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8edddd99547b42b58346b497fe23c2ef"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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—</text><clause id="H60AB56FCF636471DA561C27342FD8795"><enum>(i)</enum><text>67 percent, minus</text></clause><clause id="H5EC2141E4E934E1980F917F252398C28"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the product of—</text><subclause id="H253A944925B64EAA8C941B46D5DAB5B7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>17 percent; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H42D23E4839614740B951C23DB0148DF9"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the percentage by which the employee’s earnings exceed such poverty line; or</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD6799C1B97BE4D92A7C4DFDEA901732C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the case of any other eligible employee, 50 percent.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC1D3339D04F940DCA7F262B28CB79A25"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Recalculation of benefit amount</header><text>The weekly compensation calculated under paragraph (2) for an eligible employee shall be recalculated each time such employee applies for a paid leave benefit.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE92850AA0FC74C0EA6993A935CBF60ED"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Employees with multiple employers</header><text>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).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6eda6ce7f24844c9b8c0803cfcc1e6b1"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Employer self-administration flexibility</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7c56b7b5a49b45e3970e861fbd88823f"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>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—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcc800b1028bd424c8744a2a0bfceab12"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2612">29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1)</external-xref>);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id24159b3bc97e497aac945a8498f10d01"><enum>(B)</enum><text>benefits in amounts in excess of amounts provided under this subsection; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idddd4f8ccd0d14c0b91b139a12245bce1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>benefits for individuals other than eligible employees.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H81C99AF6B0744626BADEFBFF7702C002"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Use of Funds</header><text>Grants awarded under this section may be used by States for the following purposes:</text><paragraph id="H65ED9B4DEC12451D86A1A025CEC4D0CA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Start up costs for the implementation of the eligible State paid leave program.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H1AABBB05CD034A97B0FAC623C227EF09"><enum>(2)</enum><text>To pay out benefits to eligible employees, but only for a qualifying reason.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2A076297794A4EDAAF1A99E3BEF4A106"><enum>(3)</enum><text>To fund the covered partnership.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0F07AB2920014A5BA11C977B3DC9CA18"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Paid leave program design.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H122C4FC2F4BA4D228C7ED4DB468C9B78"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Purchasing and maintaining any necessary software.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HEDA4CB54B0344D1DB496A0C9CC51115C"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Establishing a covered partnership.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H99701A11564347E0A49D09402E43171A"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Obtaining technical assistance for the State or the covered partnership to carry out the eligible State paid leave program.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2475E5045F4E40DD85F3716E39E0E590"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEE508CED94ED4A4E95E5F883A15C2C68"><enum>(9)</enum><text>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).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9E09F59F12B54E38B3E9FA6D8815D1B1"><enum>(10)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H85B3343C229B486EB755A387E36044F7"><enum>(11)</enum><text>To evaluate existing programs and models.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H35791F22C7F348DAB90D9B0CB7A23D7F"><enum>(12)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To reduce administrative burdens on employers in the State.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H46AC549E9FF9419DB7057EECC42ABABA"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Grant amounts</header><paragraph id="H0B87CECD6D7745A8B4281E00F00CC9CE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In determining the amount of a grant to be provided to a State, the Secretary shall consider—</text><subparagraph id="H4F5132F0DFE34FCFBE11B8598DF1FF6C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H875B8734D30449BCB6A9A093B3A6AE0B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the birth rate of the State relative to the other such States;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6FC3976B38B6478692158903F0436EBF"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the share of low-income individuals in the State; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5A732C57F50D44709A3C9911273D216B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the demonstrated need of a State in the grant application.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H26478A8AE27649F786ADF76F8D80B117"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limits</header><text>A grant provided under this section may not be less than $1,500,000 and may not be more than $7,000,000.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H6A61C5EC402C4403A8560B70DD0FA4ED"><enum>103.</enum><header>Oversight</header><subsection id="HE71862ECFF9B4A23803E460E83643400"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Report</header><text>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—</text><paragraph id="H582B84D4605D4A4F93483040C5AAC69A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>how the State has used the grant funds; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H69DFACCA3B374134BAC9A4E641541F65"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the number of individuals in the State that have used paid leave benefits as a result of the grant program described in section 102.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6ec8cf4681384baf928db2f3abe3b3c4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>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.</text></subsection><subsection id="HF0D7726B745040F99F19C30A7970CCAF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Audit required</header><text>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—</text><paragraph id="HE4C779A6BB034CDCA425011DE1018AF6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>are using the grant funds in compliance with the requirements described in section 102(e); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5642A98D6E6D40CBABE6F7625650F52A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>are engaging in any waste, fraud, or abuse.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5246B8F59717494F8B6922173395D689"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Appropriate committees defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>appropriate committees</term> means—</text><paragraph id="H13125ACACC854F3C9632245963382455"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Education and Workforce, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE84084A75E494676AF3AFEDD4C17F9B8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF71C64B1A7274107ABA81604CAC28F5A" commented="no"><enum>104.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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.</text></section>

119 S5017 IS: More Paid Leave for More Americans Act U.S. Senate 2026-07-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the

More Paid Leave for More Americans Act

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.

<enum>I</enum><header>State Paid Leave Public-Private Partnership</header><section commented="no" id="HC1C9DC13A630425E9330C4350DFD14D0"><enum>101.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="H6DF570EC8FEF41AF932D5F168ADF3520"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Average weekly earnings</header><text>The term <term>average weekly earnings</term>, with respect to an individual, means the quotient obtained by dividing—</text><subparagraph id="H92E158BCE970400CB9DA7685052E48E6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the annual earnings of the individual, by</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8947E1AB241C486DBA0297A11265F123"><enum>(B)</enum><text>52.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id213060d31401467d886b9ca96588159c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered partnership</header><subparagraph id="idcb632a6b24ae4de88fbda1c3d3016479"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>covered partnership</term> means—</text><clause id="iddbfb460cb476468ab0a6b40231f207a8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>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</text></clause><clause id="id0251c11571804a689fe7f2c6f006f1cc"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>with respect to a State described in subparagraph (B), the State and every employer covered by the paid leave program of the State.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcaa09f11d482416687aac2bc53cf7e69"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Certain states</header><text>For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), a State described in this subparagraph is a State in which the paid leave program of the State—</text><clause id="idf80e3df99ed94e74982417d1075b5308"><enum>(i)</enum><text>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</text></clause><clause id="id17e1f032dd814a2bbf7c1ce2b43d4343"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>requires any such employer that self-administers such payment to—</text><subclause id="idc94d6bd0c7b64197931d5a424be33e9a"><enum>(I)</enum><text>meet or exceed the requirements of the State paid leave program; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id6c208aa2f2904b19adf1e8710cac5677"><enum>(II)</enum><text>provide paid leave program benefits to all employees of the employer who meet the eligibility requirements of the State paid leave program.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H0E7A067A57F04A6ABB34C2C08659AEA5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Earnings</header><text>The term <term>earnings</term>, 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.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5B9B33C2A4814E52A8DF7635F428A12E"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Eligible employee</header><text>The term <term>eligible employee</term> means an employee who meets the eligibility requirements of the State paid leave program of the State in which the employee works.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8021f9bcf88d446b86530b13bba975b8"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Eligible State paid leave program</header><text>The term <term>eligible State paid leave program</term> means a program described in section 102(d).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5ADB82A3D506436692E21B561C9CFEA7"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Employer</header><text>The term <term>employer</term> means an employer covered by the State paid leave program of the State in which the employer operates.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H789FD81920694777A9B80061804CC2EA"><enum>(7)</enum><header>FLSA terms</header><text>The terms <term>employ</term> and <term>employee</term> have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/203">29 U.S.C. 203</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2D7BFA3A199846D98738671AB52ED604"><enum>(8)</enum><header>State</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>State</term> 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.</text></paragraph></section><section section-type="subsequent-section" id="H9FA3A15242764C49BD496F837E1F3CFA"><enum>102.</enum><header>Establishment of the State Paid Leave Public-Private Partnership Grant Program</header><subsection id="HE08A78EC7B164F6E8DD15AF3006CA68F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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).</text></subsection><subsection id="id51c75b27f99a4a3498cbbc8d80f2aac3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><text>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.</text></subsection><subsection id="H3918652BAAEE4E4BB37912C479F8F692"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application</header><paragraph commented="no" id="HCB89E239AF8E48C886E921ACFC5C8B26"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H37EBFFFC6583441AA670D3960FFF517B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Priority</header><subparagraph id="id762efb6f4cc14ca58d205f863c71c198"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize States—</text><clause id="id409d798591f4419bad5ee5aaa93d3578"><enum>(i)</enum><text>that, as of the date of enactment of this Act, did not already have established a paid leave benefits program;</text></clause><clause id="id76805d2b2b2242e5b765f6ae14015941"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that participate in the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network established by section 202(a);</text></clause><clause id="idbb30a4c36e0649c4969007ae5609ffbc"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2612">29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1)</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="idd2ece709bc1f4c2a839a571c4e1bd1ea"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>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;</text></clause><clause id="ide43d563cf30f475a860781ee700d1183"><enum>(v)</enum><text>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;</text></clause><clause id="id11ded2e6c0be446396cc8f2720c068a4"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>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</text></clause><clause id="id732448a1a3b542f1a1f83d5c9c8f8ac6"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>that demonstrate in the application how the State paid leave program serves low-income populations.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4D87E08B7A8D4B609465A7AE70C4491B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Consideration prohibition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HED3ADC849BB94C06BB57B2CB4D2554FA"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Paid leave program requirements</header><paragraph id="H08112495B7894E8AA898723091BA3CF8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Program requirements</header><text>An eligible State paid leave program shall, at a minimum—</text><subparagraph id="id4e5d49954d79435b9fd0d63b20f01d71"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcdb0fa175ced4cc781634ac4075d22b7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ideb11307c00674949b2a992936d467149" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>require the establishment and use of a covered partnership;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id716525620d3d483484dcba4a4b50e3dd" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>establish premium rates or a financing method to fund the paid leave program for employees, employers, or both to pay;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc081e4a9cfed410693c60284c08f936c"><enum>(E)</enum><text>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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2611">29 U.S.C. 2611</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idab494a24a04e4bb6bf8a4746175af365"><enum>(F)</enum><text>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)).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H66166EC6A0FA442D99D270840FDD2567"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Paid leave benefit</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text><subparagraph id="H7B963B9A991840148BA4173F9826E6A4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/9902">42 U.S.C. 9902</external-xref>)) applicable to a 4-person household, not less than 67 percent;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8edddd99547b42b58346b497fe23c2ef"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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—</text><clause id="H60AB56FCF636471DA561C27342FD8795"><enum>(i)</enum><text>67 percent, minus</text></clause><clause id="H5EC2141E4E934E1980F917F252398C28"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the product of—</text><subclause id="H253A944925B64EAA8C941B46D5DAB5B7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>17 percent; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H42D23E4839614740B951C23DB0148DF9"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the percentage by which the employee’s earnings exceed such poverty line; or</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD6799C1B97BE4D92A7C4DFDEA901732C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the case of any other eligible employee, 50 percent.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC1D3339D04F940DCA7F262B28CB79A25"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Recalculation of benefit amount</header><text>The weekly compensation calculated under paragraph (2) for an eligible employee shall be recalculated each time such employee applies for a paid leave benefit.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE92850AA0FC74C0EA6993A935CBF60ED"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Employees with multiple employers</header><text>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).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6eda6ce7f24844c9b8c0803cfcc1e6b1"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Employer self-administration flexibility</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7c56b7b5a49b45e3970e861fbd88823f"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>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—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcc800b1028bd424c8744a2a0bfceab12"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/2612">29 U.S.C. 2612(a)(1)</external-xref>);</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id24159b3bc97e497aac945a8498f10d01"><enum>(B)</enum><text>benefits in amounts in excess of amounts provided under this subsection; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idddd4f8ccd0d14c0b91b139a12245bce1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>benefits for individuals other than eligible employees.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H81C99AF6B0744626BADEFBFF7702C002"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Use of Funds</header><text>Grants awarded under this section may be used by States for the following purposes:</text><paragraph id="H65ED9B4DEC12451D86A1A025CEC4D0CA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Start up costs for the implementation of the eligible State paid leave program.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H1AABBB05CD034A97B0FAC623C227EF09"><enum>(2)</enum><text>To pay out benefits to eligible employees, but only for a qualifying reason.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2A076297794A4EDAAF1A99E3BEF4A106"><enum>(3)</enum><text>To fund the covered partnership.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0F07AB2920014A5BA11C977B3DC9CA18"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Paid leave program design.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H122C4FC2F4BA4D228C7ED4DB468C9B78"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Purchasing and maintaining any necessary software.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HEDA4CB54B0344D1DB496A0C9CC51115C"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Establishing a covered partnership.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H99701A11564347E0A49D09402E43171A"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Obtaining technical assistance for the State or the covered partnership to carry out the eligible State paid leave program.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2475E5045F4E40DD85F3716E39E0E590"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEE508CED94ED4A4E95E5F883A15C2C68"><enum>(9)</enum><text>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).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9E09F59F12B54E38B3E9FA6D8815D1B1"><enum>(10)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H85B3343C229B486EB755A387E36044F7"><enum>(11)</enum><text>To evaluate existing programs and models.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H35791F22C7F348DAB90D9B0CB7A23D7F"><enum>(12)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To reduce administrative burdens on employers in the State.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H46AC549E9FF9419DB7057EECC42ABABA"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Grant amounts</header><paragraph id="H0B87CECD6D7745A8B4281E00F00CC9CE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In determining the amount of a grant to be provided to a State, the Secretary shall consider—</text><subparagraph id="H4F5132F0DFE34FCFBE11B8598DF1FF6C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H875B8734D30449BCB6A9A093B3A6AE0B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the birth rate of the State relative to the other such States;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6FC3976B38B6478692158903F0436EBF"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the share of low-income individuals in the State; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5A732C57F50D44709A3C9911273D216B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the demonstrated need of a State in the grant application.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H26478A8AE27649F786ADF76F8D80B117"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limits</header><text>A grant provided under this section may not be less than $1,500,000 and may not be more than $7,000,000.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H6A61C5EC402C4403A8560B70DD0FA4ED"><enum>103.</enum><header>Oversight</header><subsection id="HE71862ECFF9B4A23803E460E83643400"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Report</header><text>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—</text><paragraph id="H582B84D4605D4A4F93483040C5AAC69A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>how the State has used the grant funds; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H69DFACCA3B374134BAC9A4E641541F65"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the number of individuals in the State that have used paid leave benefits as a result of the grant program described in section 102.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6ec8cf4681384baf928db2f3abe3b3c4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>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.</text></subsection><subsection id="HF0D7726B745040F99F19C30A7970CCAF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Audit required</header><text>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—</text><paragraph id="HE4C779A6BB034CDCA425011DE1018AF6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>are using the grant funds in compliance with the requirements described in section 102(e); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5642A98D6E6D40CBABE6F7625650F52A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>are engaging in any waste, fraud, or abuse.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5246B8F59717494F8B6922173395D689"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Appropriate committees defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>appropriate committees</term> means—</text><paragraph id="H13125ACACC854F3C9632245963382455"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Education and Workforce, the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE84084A75E494676AF3AFEDD4C17F9B8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF71C64B1A7274107ABA81604CAC28F5A" commented="no"><enum>104.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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.</text></section><enum>II</enum><header>I–PLAN</header><section id="H91759FD85BF94F12980AF2A8130F8DB4"><enum>201.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph commented="no" id="H4BCC69C3901645EFADCF865FBBE86127"><enum>(1)</enum><header>BLS</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>BLS</term> means the Bureau of Labor Statistics.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H175433CE33E241BC8CE7B85FEB9ABB65"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Employer paid leave benefits program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>employer paid leave benefits program</term> means a program that—</text><subparagraph id="H88ADE97506254FFB98BBF1145CDD8EE5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H862C68994D444041A39B335D6C967C73"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is an option for an employer within the structure of a State paid leave benefits program in such State; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1DAA9B4997E541ACB39C9701CFAAF521"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">meets or exceeds the requirements of the State paid leave benefits program of the State in which such employee is employed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFA688576DC8744478C107AEDA4CB433F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>I–PLAN</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>I–PLAN</term> means the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network established in section 202(a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1000424AE40345729BF1A281578E20C1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>I–PLAN agreement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>I–PLAN Agreement</term> means the interstate agreement produced pursuant to section 202(b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD6CE5EBC18134301BBA7340ED83EEDCF"><enum>(5)</enum><header>National intermediary</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>national intermediary</term> 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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idae8a3842176a49678f522a756e588791" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Paid leave</header><text>The term <term>paid leave</term> 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.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB61689C4E0E1481ABBB3924B654CE9DF"><enum>(7)</enum><header>State focal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>State focal</term> means, with respect to a State, an individual—</text><subparagraph id="HB2658CFA247E4E67AE64826561332987"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">designated by the State agency in charge of such State’s paid leave benefits program to—</text><clause id="H6CB0BF31CAD740768C68EDF35D048F3F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>participate in the I–PLAN;</text></clause><clause id="HE612625B0D5F4C7184B9C2DEFEA087DA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>lead such State’s efforts to adopt and implement the I–PLAN Agreement; and</text></clause><clause id="H8FF04850868F4531A89BB7B7BA0391BE"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">communicate with key paid leave stakeholders across the State; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H60DBE967029D41C7B2907E47FABA940A"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">who—</text><clause id="H5D6C13C1B07B42B28C36FEC8C488B2D9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is employed by such State’s paid leave benefits program; and</text></clause><clause id="H566021DD9DF44E598C8F3D85CC51F7F9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>has knowledge, experience, and authority in paid leave matters.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB03A9AACF33045F98D720D0E13F6E850"><enum>(8)</enum><header>State paid leave benefits program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The <term>State paid leave benefits program</term> 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—</text><subparagraph id="H0769A157512F40F3AD8F40C0FC4017AD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for each qualifying reason; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H535E1407A5E44C89B8C1395D491C6217"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in aggregate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="HE70A8C73BD24476A8E76D52D90941065"><enum>202.</enum><header>Interstate Paid Leave Action Network</header><subsection id="H1B6ED8B0C83A48CDAD20E581FF14EF14"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><paragraph id="H5C7D60C188C848FCBD23687C4AB56533"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text><subparagraph id="HBBD4C2A56A094A7A8D6C1917CF04E1D6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>facilitating streamlined benefit delivery;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7A15D8714F784C01BE0C3EA01014D4EA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>reducing administrative burden; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H66ABD6B6910C42BF845AA48208C0C8DC"><enum>(C)</enum><text>coordinating and harmonizing State programs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2D9EEE1E7A6E4D1FAF8DBF40AA11D2C3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Membership</header><text>The I–PLAN shall include a State focal from each State receiving a conforming grant under section 204(a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE07B3C9E0FD54B20AC9AF7BB75A7419D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Meetings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The I–PLAN shall meet not less than 3 times in each calendar year.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF78B73C269284900851CAE35BF2F6BC9"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Processes</header><subparagraph id="HED70C306FD6941C88111D0AA08546E5B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Certification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">States shall certify to the Secretary their participation in the I–PLAN.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H98F1325BA3364C99994B1BEC3261ABFD"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">State focals may determine, in coordination with the Secretary, the process for each of the following:</text><clause id="HF5A8662AAD7F410498638F37D5C0E3A9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The order in which States approach the substance of each I–PLAN requirement.</text></clause><clause id="HDF52F21E01F04C6093E6BAAD823F7D73"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The process by which States reach consensus on such substance and agree to the I–PLAN Agreement.</text></clause><clause id="HEC58D3563F4E4418BE1E29EE74CCE5C6"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The process by which a State may leave the I–PLAN.</text></clause><clause id="H3B59381180EF49D59CDA5328FFD8EF31"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Other processes relevant to the success and administration of the I–PLAN as the Secretary determines.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H819160295BD749B1B90A00EE5F35EA65"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Roadmap</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD6979FB4C3194223B4754ECA57EE75A4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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:</text><paragraph commented="no" id="HDA4811BC83F9427FAEB4BE93D5066F38"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Policy standard</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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:</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H8AE8D76A076A49269ABCAF8702C8E6B7"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Benefit day, week, and year.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H63427F36D24549D18C52942444A89866"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Base period.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H9D2ED54F6CA041C5B97E74A156048E81"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Intermittent and reduced schedule leave.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H0BAFCFA83FAE43C1AEFF76FC7682986C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Place of performance.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HE361599BAC46425EA9224187C9FA68EE"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Family members.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HB5358215E84F48A5947A33B57E45B3D0"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Employee eligibility.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H191B6C2F515044539A43B97D7F48E523"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Employee coverage.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H2A14E4141A0542028B45178E0C8D7ABE"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Waiting period.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H732EF156DC3D4781A3C8BB0F75612CFD"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Covered wage.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H512286D27F584CE58576848CC4B1B776"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administrative standard</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text><subparagraph id="H6449C88E8ADB489B820E47ACA316A36B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the process by which employers respond to requests from States to verify and provide employee information for eligibility determinations, including wages and work history;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD2642E22D2064D849A6C8AA3AFA4CA25"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE23FC3A8793248ADAA8DAC3614DED7DC"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">employees’ responsibility to provide notices of leave to their employers;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEA245A00D0EC43BB8A92BBE459AEB5C0"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">timing of and process for collecting payroll contributions;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB700CFAF8985472985A6FE8F5CC14B3C"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordinating with other types of paid time off and leaves of absence;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0379C34900F04DF392B8492829095AED"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">continuing other benefits;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H27FB514D0E7E4D46A95C4A2589ABDEAF"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">accessing employee leave information;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAD60341B4F2C4917BB4E60DA2B0FCA95"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">protecting personal information;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3DEEE281F6754EE4BA7474FA99F52EBF"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">creating and updating written leave materials such as handbooks;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H554CE22552C64CCC91E28704F7842CAD"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maintaining records and documentation; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H110BDB79D0DD4FD0A0071BFCD304F04F"><enum>(K)</enum><text>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—</text><clause id="H2691EED8D26C40A482B5677F7E7B0F62"><enum>(i)</enum><text>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</text></clause><clause id="H3E224F4A12514BA185D333C23914B348"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>how an individual taking paid leave for a qualifying reason affects the ability of such individual to take paid leave for another qualifying reason.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4D5500D4780E429C9C5A94D99C9A4942"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Coordination of benefits across State programs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF32C0C5231F145C58C569521D6A0286D"><enum>203.</enum><header>National intermediary to support the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network</header><subsection id="H6CA9185F81174E5AB88DDDA4B687E1A6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority To make grants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection><subsection id="H0C4C35AF6BE340F39E237BC27177E1A7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A national intermediary awarded a grant under subsection (a) shall use funds for the costs related to each of the following:</text><paragraph id="HBB8348315A4A4143BD571C562F887B64"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Meetings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Meeting activities, including—</text><subparagraph id="H0B6DB07225874F098C900377F14C655B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6169C5307AC24A25B8AAD9493C6B0057"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">making publicly available information on the agendas and outcomes of such meetings; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H76CDE2C79B5C4613BD71247B0319D7D8"><enum>(C)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H69E3C2F6E5734921A81ED39AE8EC7799"><enum>(i)</enum><text>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</text></clause><clause id="H4A4353F53801461D8B4D1BB825AF9A89" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>making any updates to such roadmap publicly available.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB652574A11854545858F584A66D54D50"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Producing and making publicly available on an annual basis a report that compares State programs, including information on—</text><subparagraph id="HB0E2F26A198A48918B1D2B03F13F16A9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>benefit eligibility;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H813458D1F6A84AAB8E3DC4699E7E1F35"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the maximum number of weeks an eligible employee is allowed to receive benefits—</text><clause id="H4122F7F45E8E4F93A3A25F1CA1F3AF38"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for each qualifying reason; and</text></clause><clause id="HA240539747E74216B7C1619F0080E281"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in aggregate;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2499CC5717AA4141A82462093CA20AD7"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">wage replacement rate and how that may vary based on prior earnings;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAAD8E2F7266741B6B42BCE004627848A"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maximum weekly benefit amount;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA801CCAB300F4E48B7201250E8103B8E"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">how such programs are financed by employees and employers, including the payroll tax rate and amount of wages subject to tax;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HC5487BC5565A49D0A32D5466639F35FB"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether and how such programs allow employers to provide employer paid leave benefits programs, taking into consideration elements such as—</text><clause commented="no" id="H7620527FF078448C9C2680E09B03BA7E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>benefit payment timeliness; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="H8F3D15939EF1489FA6B1CC3A2475016D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>employer and employee administrative complexity;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H312AB60845F04A1DBF9F7E2C31D7EBAE"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether and how such programs coordinate with other types of paid-time off and leaves of absence;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2085AD521D5F477EB0372C884AB39A29"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the reasons, including qualifying reasons, under which an individual is eligible to take paid leave; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCAC493CF01FB4952BDAF9013A66B4934"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">other activities essential for the success, effectiveness, and sustainability of the I–PLAN.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF6B1339D1DF243A189EA612068523EEB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Outreach and coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Engagement, consulting, and gathering relevant information in coordination with I–PLAN States from a wide range of external stakeholders, including—</text><subparagraph id="H270119D1EB404C039B5F7072B5B5FDB1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">State legislatures;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H21FA62084A4E463E91E8A70B2424E337"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Governors;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFD94782ABBE94261B2FD536D82E3CD41"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">employees;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H887F0D59C08F4B9E85200758F0F7CD18"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">representatives of employers, including—</text><clause id="HC3ACBFC7811142A5880ED1A64BE7D27B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>employers with employees in multiple States; and</text></clause><clause id="H1A42AA427CE24D638574ADC089F04CEC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">employers with fewer than 50 employees;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4F6C46D498B44D9480AD78D22C04AB38"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">self-employed individuals;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H228239B197854382BB5A7DFCD166F1E7"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">policy experts and other organizations with expertise on paid leave and unemployment compensation programs; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8C2EFB0AAE1B4696AC0F40C2404E0B2F"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Tribal governments.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H67A83CBDC0FC4D038D33C06E6250A7AD"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Standardized and interoperable technology system for wages</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text><subparagraph id="H84C8DC2FE33E42929B1275C2BD0BBBAE"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">adopts or leverages modular technology that—</text><clause id="H5366E3C60FCF4B2FA80F99575456F2C5"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensures privacy, security, and prompt data availability;</text></clause><clause id="H47BEFC9C5702479FAD19B7C27F9E7B4D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">enhances and streamlines the claimant, employer, and participating State experience; and</text></clause><clause id="HA4EF5685E84C45E68EC3CE57086CA7D4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is interoperable with other relevant State systems; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H939D17A79D194DDEB33142CD5DD81F1E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">permits States to report on, to the extent reasonable and technologically feasible, and disaggregated by qualifying reason, on trends such as—</text><clause id="H657C7E9A09C140609D2DB2A226A7B696"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the number of initial and continued benefit claims;</text></clause><clause id="HDD3288F77F964C4285D313D3F7D851C9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>average duration of benefits;</text></clause><clause id="HB22A7F77290D444F930728BB48474B9F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>average weekly benefit amount;</text></clause><clause id="HAF37F040D67E45F3A39213B4D6C89ED6"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>average time between filing a claim and receiving an initial benefit payment; and</text></clause><clause id="H28ADD58181D74A579A7E7D2AF878B9B6"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the accuracy of benefit payment amounts.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0F8B7F8D7E614304A992B69550C38C95"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Additional uses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Additional activities, including—</text><subparagraph id="HDECB17E3565E4D9CA7C964D7A3E4EFEB"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">hiring and compensating staff;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H31CCE765D811489683F08E91F28769E7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>formulating guidance, recommendations, and best practices for States;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8A4C95311BB649A1A979D9644291EFAC"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">providing training on program administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H17C65C473441433F917DE1EC7DB28E2E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>providing technical assistance to States; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H485A440C87794D67856DA17E55629BD3"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">creating or leveraging technology essential for the success and effectiveness of the I–PLAN.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H976D0EEF57BC40679B1373FF40516B95"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Duration of award</header><text>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.</text></subsection><subsection id="HCFB9071BE3A441C18D4AC9CBB63A4B5E"><enum>(d)</enum><header>National intermediary oversight</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="HF8D1D2CF4C82430CA2EF15CECC423CD8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">monitor the national intermediary to ensure compliance with the requirements of this title;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HED6E49B3613940B88FE5FFA21137F304"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide technical assistance to assist the national intermediary with such compliance;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0208FF53921147C8839FC82F5564AE38"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id543035df5a9c4706a94795d1fdb8e9d4"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H1132ACAFAB9840249612DA0745005F22"><enum>204.</enum><header>Grants to eligible States</header><subsection id="H5EB9D65D7E2E4673A6619E3EF7BB94F3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Conforming grants</header><paragraph id="H9F55180E00FE47F1AF8051D7DF5818A9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><subparagraph id="H73BC41D0B4CB459E9CB632E9CC959717"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Authority to make grants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1D4F34F8E24E4CBE8E968A43B96D34D3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Amount of grant</header><clause id="H3858183A52364592B1D2EB4B2AA04B9F"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A grant to an eligible State under this subsection shall be—</text><subclause id="HAF2287F471E24A0EB44C30D7373FA5F3"><enum>(I)</enum><text>not less than $1,500,000 and not more than $8,000,000; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HF4262E7AA98B4ACBAD3C4FB8D375FDEE"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H091870F7C9774FC8AFB6512E4CA1B01A"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Adjustment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2ED2F10B411F48CDA383C2EFF1DD3FCD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible States</header><subparagraph id="H6B58A79B23794CA5A13CF410CE1E6BD8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), a State shall—</text><clause id="H56F3E497C2104AFCB326056F208916F2"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">have a State focal; and</text></clause><clause id="H6604CF5FBF2C4A9FA8D88D146CA87107"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">participate in the I–PLAN in good faith.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9FAAA4FD374342CEA6AA406CBB8D5F7A"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Good faith requirement</header><clause id="HD9D9B4B2A1E1449BA7DB9A5EF0AF374A"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Withholding</header><text>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—</text><subclause id="H11090EA3A7374B359376FC60E40CF2EB"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall provide warning and feedback to States in a prompt manner; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H71D43B323C7E400DB5D18EAA6B119364"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HD4669FEFAAA9487BA145F959F4A7C1DA"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Restoration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H74F1526062AF4453B0623C977CBE1E6D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Implementation grants</header><paragraph id="HBF76760FF1D5488B9FB19D0B4673DA70"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><subparagraph id="HF9DDC1071AB64931942CA8B692744F49"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Authority to make grants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H30AD6896FDC7477699F35DE564302098"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Amount of grant</header><clause id="H7586E0DF32404FD09EFD0B3DCD8BD6FB"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A grant to an eligible State under this subsection shall be—</text><subclause id="H41E2989C09CA4D7AA07472BBF2F47BFF"><enum>(I)</enum><text>not less than $1,500,000 and not more than $8,000,000; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H7A2A6C69D6CB446291D3933ECC9E787F"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H81DA16E5EC6D4EA0AB083910776135BD"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Adjustment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD3904C8294164B3B961A2D62051A195B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><subparagraph commented="no" id="H04813F10D82245749BF44BFE1964824E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), to be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), a State shall—</text><clause commented="no" id="HA92FBAAAAEAA4A299BC9930C416D85EF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>meet the requirements of subsection (a)(2)(A); and</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="H81AF826517834B9AA2C307D387663FC8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">have entered into the I–PLAN Agreement.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H075F13542CC14440924C61BF6C01C6D5"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>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.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3C8B30F38A8540889C8510F1C87FFF62"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>A State may use grants received under this section—</text><paragraph id="H04176631135E4A0A9BEE687B528A4CFF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to help pay administrative costs, including costs related to—</text><subparagraph id="H9A90487F910146ABA05634D3143D2CA0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">customer service;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H975999831AAE474D837350F4BBCC30F7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>staffing and training;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9E450928A5ED40F0945834B09BCE2BE8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>technology;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H617FAFEA7BCB419CAAF44C6A41A5F350"><enum>(D)</enum><text>data sharing;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0FCBE9D7866145EA963B993A1D0AF2BC"><enum>(E)</enum><text>identity validation; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB83F0FE97DDD40C0BD9B7D8F01B3F430"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">program awareness; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H491D5EEEA6B7485996848694E212C9B7"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HD8FA471D226D4A099BEF0B9D0CDF4104"><enum>205.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><subsection id="H15816158A5974E5989322067F0315DD4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>National intermediary grant</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection><subsection id="H652ECCF0DBC24EC3B76153D01F4A442F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming grants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection><subsection id="HA0E94B5837824061BC26FD71C35CF981"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Implementation grants</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection></section>