MAY 2024 UPDATES:

Legislative Update: A Paid Leave bill proposed by DEED has been passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor. The bill provides clarity around concepts critical to successful implementation. These are primarily technical edits, not changes to the fundamentals of the program.

Some elements of the bill include:

• Simplified approach to small employer premium rates
• Annual adjustments to the premium rate based on actuarial studies
• Improved guidance for insurers that plan to offer private plan products
• More detail around the appeal process, building off of best practices from the Unemployment Insurance program
• Clarifications for how Paid Leave will work for individuals with multiple employers
• Clearer rulemaking direction around safety leave applications and certification
• Clearer guidance for technical concepts in the law.

From DEED: "We support these changes because they will make it easier to work together to deliver a successful program, and ultimately, will improve access and the overall experience for Minnesotans who need Paid Leave."

Rulemaking: The Minnesota Legislature delegated authority to DEED to make rules necessary to carry out the Paid Leave program. Rules provide clarity and uniformity to fill in details that were not put directly in the statutes.

To that end, the Paid Leave division is seeking comments related to private plan exemptions, employer rights and responsibilities, medical leave certification, and more. You can submit comments through the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

DEED is also planning a series of listening sessions on specific rulemaking topics. We’ll add information about the sessions to our website and share updates in future newsletters.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• When are the first wage detail reports due?
  Every quarter, employers across the state are required to submit a report to the state that details wages paid to their employees. The first wage detail reports will be due on October 31, 2024, and will be based on wages paid between July 1, 2024, and September 30, 2024.
• My organization is covered by the Unemployment Insurance program, what do I need to do for wage detail reporting for Paid Leave?
  Nothing! Your UI employer account will be automatically converted into a joint UI/Paid Leave account to allow you to submit your wage detail report using the same process you use today.
• If an employer is not required to participate in the Unemployment Insurance program, is that employer also exempt from the Paid Leave program?
  The Paid Leave program is a new program distinct from the Unemployment Insurance program. The Paid Leave law does not exclude the same employers that are excluded for the purposes of Unemployment Insurance. For example, religious organizations, non-profits, and agricultural employers are all required to participate in the Paid Leave program.
• My organization is not covered by the Unemployment Insurance program, what do I need to do for wage detail reporting?
  During summer 2024, you will need to register for a Paid Leave Only account through the UI Online system.

To Ask More Questions: DEED encourages those with questions unanswered on their website to submit the question here.