SF 324 (LSB 2455XS (2) 88)

SENATE FILE 324

BY  WAHLS

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for time off to care for or transport a child in the event of a school cancellation, late start, or early dismissal due to inclement weather and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  91A.5B  School cancellation, late start, or early dismissal due to inclement weather —— time off.
   1.  An employer shall provide an employee upon request an amount of time off necessary for the purpose of caring for or transporting the employee’s child in the event of a cancellation, late start, or early dismissal of the school day at the school the child attends due to inclement weather. Such a request shall be submitted to the employer within one business day after taking such time off. 
   2.  An employer shall have the discretion of providing paid or unpaid time off pursuant to subsection 1. An employer shall not discharge, penalize, or otherwise retaliate against an employee for taking time off pursuant to subsection 1.
   3.  An employee shall provide an employer with as much notice as practicable of the employee’s intent to take time off pursuant to subsection 1. An employer may require the employee to provide the employer with documentation of the cancellation, late start, or early dismissal of the school day within one business day of requesting such time off.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires an employer under Code chapter 91A to provide an employee upon request an amount of time off necessary for the purpose of caring for or transporting the employee’s child in the event of a cancellation, late start, or early dismissal of the school day at the school the child attends due to inclement weather. Such a request shall be submitted within one business day after taking such time off.
   The bill provides an employer with the discretion to provide paid or unpaid time off pursuant to the bill. The bill prohibits an employer from discharging, penalizing, or otherwise retaliating against an employee for taking time off pursuant to the bill.
   The bill requires an employee to provide an employer with as much notice as practicable of the employee’s intent to take time off pursuant to the bill. The bill authorizes an employer to require the employee to provide documentation of the cancellation, late start, or early dismissal of the school day within one business day of requesting such time off. 
   Code chapter 91A is administered and enforced by the labor commissioner. A violation of Code chapter 91A or the administrative rules promulgated under it is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500 per pay period for each violation.