The Maryland General Assembly recently passed a bill making some changes to the Time to Care Act (the law that set the stage for Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) system).
The contribution period for the State Plan will now begin July 1, 2025. Benefits will now be available starting July 1, 2026
Shifting the timeline will make implementation more feasible.
What is the Time To Care Act?
FAMLI, or the Time To Care Act, will ensure eligible Maryland workers can take up to 12 weeks away from work to care for themselves or a family member and still receive income of up to $1,000 a week. This program is often referred to as “paid family and medical leave” or simply “paid leave.”
How does this impact me?
Employers should be mindful of the following:
- Employers with 15 or more employees will be required to contribute to the Fund.
- Employees, employers, and self-employed individuals may begin contributing to the Fund as of July 1, 2025
- Beginning on July 1, 2026, employees taking leave under the Act will be paid a partial wage replacement based on a range of $50 to $1,000 per week. The pay scale will vary based on income with lower-income workers receiving the highest portion of their income, up to 90%.
- You will be responsible for filing quarterly wage and hour reports with the Division. These reports will be the basis for calculating the amount due each quarter. Even if you participate in a private plan, you will be required to file these reports.
Still have questions?
We recommend this article from the Maryland Department of Labor.
How BlueStone Services Can Help
BlueStone Service’s human resources outsourcing team will be closely monitoring developments on this matter and are happy to discuss the program and process with you further. They are also ready to assist organizations with their development of existing leave policies and procedures from revising handbooks to providing HR compliance check-ups. To learn more about their services, please contact us today!
