Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this Minnesota legislative bill is to modify the state's paid leave program by updating the definitions and eligibility criteria for employees under the program. The bill aims to clarify who qualifies as an employee and thus, who is eligible for the paid leave benefits.

Main Provisions

• Employee Definition: Expands and clarifies the definition of who is considered an employee. This includes individuals performing services for an employer but explicitly excludes:

  • Employees of the United States government
  • Self-employed individuals
  • Independent contractors
  • Seasonal employees as per the defined terms

• Small Employer Employees: Employees working for small employers are not automatically included in the paid leave program. They will be considered covered only if they individually opt into coverage under the specific provision (268B.11 subdivision 1).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The legislation refines the scope of what constitutes an "employee" by further specifying exclusions. This means certain workers will no longer automatically receive benefits under the paid leave program unless they opt in, particularly those working for small employers or seasonal roles.

• By excluding small employer employees unless they opt-in, the law alters the previous assumption likely covering these individuals by default. This shifts the responsibility to these employees to decide whether to participate in the paid leave program.

Relevant Terms

paid leave program, employee, small employer, seasonal employees, self-employed individuals, independent contractors