I am inquiring about the new CA paid family leave act. Please provide me with information on this new legislation. It is my understanding that under the new law employees will be eligible to receive 55 percent of their wages during their absence, up to a maximum of $728.00 per week. These contributions will begin in January 2004. Where do these contributions come from and how does the employee get paid.

Thank you.

I am inquiring about the new CA paid family leave act. Please provide me with information on this new legislation. It is my understanding that under the new law employees will be eligible to receive 55 percent of their wages during their absence, up to a maximum of $728.00 per week. These contributions will begin in January 2004. Where do these contributions come from and how does the employee get paid.

Thank you.
Hi Claudia,
Beginning on July 1, 2004, nearly all non-governmental employees in California (those who are covered by the current State Disibility Insurance (SDI) plan or a substitute voluntary plan) will be eligible to receive up to six weeks of Family Temporary Disability Insurance (FTDI) benefits over a 12-month period.

FTDI benefits will be funded through increased employee payroll deductions, beginning in January 2004 (six months before any employees are eligible to receive benefits). These deductions will be based on a payroll tax schedule and are estimated to average $27 per employee per year. Currently, the top contribution is capped at $70 for those earning $72,000 or more a year. California workers will be able to collect as much as 55 percent of their salary, up to a maximum of $728 per week.
There are some limitations to the FTDI program. First, the paid family leave entitlement does not give employees the legal right to take a leave of absence. It only provides partial pay for situations in which employees are otherwise legally entitled to take family leave
Under Paid Family Leave, employers must provide a brochure to new employees who start after January 1, 2004 and persons who request Paid Family Leave after July 1, 2004 (brochures can be downloaded from the EDD web site: http://www.edd.ca.gov/direp/dipub.htm).