,i  #aaith ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #cjij  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,april #cj1 #bjbe,ms4
 ,houlahan 7for herself1 ,mrs4 ,bice1   
,ms4 ,letlow1 ,ms4 ,stevens1 ,mrs4      
,miller-,meeks1 ,mr4 ,gomez1 ,mr4       
,feenstra1 and ,mr4 ,beyer7 introduced  
the following bill2 which was referred  
to the ,committee on ,education and     
,workforce  ,a ,,bill  ,to establish the
 ,interstate ,paid ,leave ,action       
,network to provide support and         
incentives for the development and      
adoption of an interstate agreement that
 facilitates streamlined benefit        
delivery1 reduced administrative burden1
 and coordination and harmonization of  
,state paid family and medical leave    
programs to benefit employees1 ,states1 
and employers4  #a4 ,short title ,this  
,act may be cited as the ,interstate    
,paid ,leave ,action ,network ,act of   
#bjbe or ,i-,,plan ,act of #bjbe4  #b4  
,definitions ,in this ,act3  7#a7 ,,bls 
,the term ,,bls means the ,bureau of    

,labor ,statistics4  7#b7               
,employer-provided paid family and      
medical leave plan ,the terms           
employer-provided paid family and       
medical leave plan and employer plan    
mean a plan that--  7,a7 is provided by 
an employer to the employees of such    
employer 7whether directly1 under a     
contract with an insurer1 or provided   
through a multiemployer plan72  7,b7 is 
an option for an employer within the    
structure of a ,state paid family and   
medical leave program in such ,state2   
and  7,c7 meets or exceeds the          
requirements of the ,state paid family  
and medical leave program of the ,state 
in which such employee is employed4     
7#c7 ,i-,,plan ,the term ,i-,,plan means
 the ,interstate ,paid ,leave ,action   
,network established in section #c7;a74 
7#d7 ,i-,,plan agreement ,the term      
,i-,,plan ,agreement means the          
interstate agreement produced pursuant  
to section #c7;b74  7#e7 ,national      
intermediary ,the term national         

intermediary means a national           
nongovernmental workforce organization  
that has extensive experience partnering
 with the ,department of ,labor to      
operate interstate technological systems
 and the electronic transmission of     
information and data for ,state         
workforce agencies and employers4  7#f7 
,paid leave ,the term paid leave means  
an increment of compensated leave that  
is provided1 in the case of a ,state    
program1 by such ,state or1 in the case 
of an employer plan1 by such employer   
for use during a period in which such   
individual is not working due to a      
qualifying reason4  7#g7 ,qualifying    
reason ,the term qualifying reason      
means1 in relation to an individual1 a  
reason described in subparagraphs 7,a7  
through 7,d7 of section #ajb7;a77#a7 of 
the ,family and ,medical ,leave ,act of 
#aiic 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bfab7;a77#a77     
7applied for purposes of this paragraph 
as if the individual involved were the  
employee referred to in such section74  

7#h7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary    
means the ,secretary of ,labor4  7#i7   
,state focal ,the term ,state focal     
means1 with respect to a ,state1 an     
individual--  7,a7 designated by the    
,state agency in charge of such ,state's
 paid family and medical leave program  
to-- 7i7 participate in the ,i-,,plan2  
7ii7 lead such ,state's efforts to adopt
 and implement the ,i-,,plan ,agreement2
 and  7iii7 communicate with key paid   
leave stakeholders across the ,state2   
and  7,b7 who-- 7i7 is employed by such 
,state's paid family and medical leave  
program2 and  7ii7 has knowledge1       
experience1 and authority in paid leave 
matters4  7#aj7 ,state paid family and  
medical leave program ,the terms ,state 
paid family and medical leave program   
and ,state program mean a program under 
,state law that provides1 during any    
#bd-month period1 a total of not less   
than #f weeks of paid leave to          
individuals--  7,a7 for each qualifying 
reason2 and  7,b7 in aggregate4  #c4    

,interstate ,paid ,leave ,action        
,network  7a7 ,in general  7#a7         
,establishment ,there is established an 
,interstate ,paid ,leave ,action        
,network the purpose of which is to     
provide support and incentives for the  
development and adoption of an          
interstate agreement in accordance with 
this ,act to benefit employees1 ,states1
 and employers by-- 7,a7 facilitating   
streamlined benefit delivery2  7,b7     
reducing administrative burden2 and     
7,c7 coordinating and harmonizing ,state
 programs4  7#b7 ,membership ,the       
,i-,,plan shall include a ,state focal  
from each ,state receiving a conforming 
grant under section #e7;a74  7#c7       
,meetings ,the ,i-,,plan shall meet not 
less than #c times in each calendar     
year4  7#d7 ,processes  7,a7            
,certification ,states shall certify to 
the ,secretary their participation in   
the ,i-,,plan4  7,b7 ,procedures ,state 
focals may determine1 in coordination   
with the ,secretary1 the process for the

 following3  7i7 the order in which     
,states approach the substance of each  
,i-,,plan requirement2  7ii7 the process
 by which ,states reach consensus on    
such substance and agree to the         
,i-,,plan ,agreement2  7iii7 the process
 by which a ,state may leave the        
,i-,,plan2 and  7iv7 other processes    
relevant to the success and             
administration of the ,i-,,plan as the  
,secretary determines4  7#e7 ,roadmap   
,the ,i-,,plan shall develop1 and       
annually update1 a roadmap for          
developing and implementing the         
interstate agreement described in       
subsection 7b7 including metrics for    
success4  7b7 ,duties ,the duty of the  
,i-,,plan shall be to produce an        
interstate agreement into which ,states 
offering a ,state paid family and       
medical leave program may enter and to  
periodically update such agreement as   
necessary to improve clarity and scope4 
,such agreement shall be publicly       
available and pursue each of the        

following requirements3  7#a7 ,policy   
standard ,create a single policy        
standard with respect to all            
participating ,states to facilitate     
easier compliance with and understanding
 of paid leave programs across ,states1 
including definitions for the following3
 7,a7 ,benefit day1 week1 and year4     
7,b7 ,base period4  7,c7 ,intermittent  
and reduced schedule leave4  7,d7 ,place
 of performance4  7,e7 ,family members4 
7,f7 ,employee eligibility4  7,g7       
,employee coverage4  7,h7 ,waiting      
period4  7,i7 ,covered wage4  7#b7      
,administrative standard ,create a      
single administrative standard with     
respect to all participating ,states to 
facilitate easier compliance with and   
understanding of paid leave programs    
across ,states1 including-- 7,a7 the    
process by which employers respond to   
requests from ,states to verify and     
provide employee information for        
eligibility determinations1 including   
wages and work history2  7,b7 the       

process by which employers provide      
periodic and permanent notice of the    
availability of paid leave under a      
,state program or employer plan to      
employees2  7,c7 employees'             
responsibility to provide notices of    
leave to their employers2  7,d7 timing  
of and process for collecting payroll   
contributions2  7,e7 coordinating with  
other types of paid time off and leaves 
of absence2  7,f7 continuing other      
benefits2  7,g7 accessing employee leave
 information2  7,h7 protecting personal 
information2  7,i7 creating and updating
 written leave materials such as        
handbooks2  7,j7 maintaining records and
 documentation2 and  7,k7 if a ,state   
program permits employers to elect to   
provide employer plans1 facilitating    
such election1 including by creating a  
single equivalency standard with respect
 to all participating ,states to        
determine whether the maximum monetary  
value of an employer plan for the       
average weekly wage of workers in the   

,state for total covered establishments 
in all industries 7based on the most    
recent calendar year for which data are 
available from the ,quarterly ,census of
 ,employment and ,wages program of the  
,,bls7 is greater than or equal to the  
maximum monetary value of a ,state      
program 7or that of multiple ,states71  
taking into account programmatic        
elements such as--  7i7 how benefit     
duration1 wage replacement1 absence of a
 weekly benefit cap1 absence of a       
waiting week1 and other factors interact
 in a quantitative manner2 and  7ii7 how
 an individual taking paid family and   
medical leave for a qualifying reason   
affects the ability of such individual  
to take paid family and medical leave   
for another qualifying reason4  7#c7    
,coordination of benefits across ,state 
programs ,create a single process for   
,state programs to process claims for an
 individual who has work history across 
multiple participating ,states so that a
 single ,state program may provide      

benefits to such individual on the basis
 of all such work history4  #d4         
,national intermediary to support the   
,interstate ,paid ,leave ,action        
,network  7a7 ,authority ,to make grants
 ,subject to the availability of        
appropriations under section #f7;a71 the
 ,secretary1 acting through the         
,employment and ,training               
,administration1 shall award a grant to 
one national intermediary to facilitate 
the activities of the ,i-,,plan4  7b7   
,use of funds ,a national intermediary  
awarded a grant under subsection 7a7    
shall use funds for the costs related to
 each of the following3 7#a7 ,meetings  
,meeting activities1 including--  7,a7  
convening the ,state focals as described
 in section #c7;a77#c71 including       
reasonable travel1 transportation1 and  
other expenses of ,state focals and     
staff of the national intermediary 7and 
any necessary accompanying ,state       
personnel72  7,b7 making publicly       
available information on the agendas and

 outcomes of such meetings2 and  7,c7   
7i7 not later than #ab months after the 
date of enactment of this ,act1 making  
publicly available the roadmap described
 under section #c7;a77#e72 and  7ii7    
making any updates to such roadmap      
publicly available4  7#b7 ,annual report
 ,producing and making publicly         
available on an annual basis a report   
that compares ,state programs1 including
 information on-- 7,a7 benefit          
eligibility2  7,b7 the maximum number of
 weeks an eligible employee is allowed  
to receive benefits-- 7i7 for each      
qualifying reason2 and  7ii7 in         
aggregate2  7,c7 wage replacement rate  
and how that may vary based on prior    
earnings2  7,d7 maximum weekly benefit  
amount2  7,e7 how such programs are     
financed by employees and employers1    
including the payroll tax rate and      
amount of wages subject to tax2  7,f7   
whether and how such programs allow     
employers to provide employer plans1    
taking into consideration elements such 

as-- 7i7 benefit payment timeliness2 and
  7ii7 employer and employee            
administrative complexity2  7,g7 whether
 and how such programs coordinate with  
other types of paid-time off and leaves 
of absence2  7,h7 the reasons1 including
 qualifying reasons1 under which an     
individual is eligible to take paid     
family and medical leave2 and  7,i7     
other activities essential for the      
success1 effectiveness1 and             
sustainability of the ,i-,,plan4  7#c7  
,outreach and coordination ,engagement1 
consulting1 and gathering relevant      
information in coordination with        
,i-,,plan ,states from a wide range of  
external stakeholders1 including-- 7,a7 
,state legislatures2  7,b7 ,governors2  
7,c7 employees2  7,d7 representatives of
 employers1 including-- 7i7 employers   
with employees in multiple ,states2 and 
7ii7 employers with fewer than #ej      
employees2  7,e7 self-employed          
individuals2  7,f7 policy experts and   
other organizations with expertise on   

paid leave and unemployment compensation
 programs2 and  7,g7 ,tribal            
governments4  7#d7 ,standardized and    
interoperable technology system for     
wages ,providing a standardized         
technology-based system to facilitate   
,states' ability to carry out the       
,i-,,plan ,agreement1 allowing ,states  
to process interstate claims and        
strengthen program integrity1 that--    
7,a7 adopts or leverages modular        
technology that--  7i7 ensures privacy1 
security1 and prompt data availability2 
7ii7 enhances and streamlines the       
claimant1 employer1 and participating   
,state experience2 and  7iii7 is        
interoperable with other relevant ,state
 systems2 and  7,b7 permits ,states to  
report on1 to the extent reasonable and 
technologically feasible1 and           
disaggregated by qualifying reason1 on  
trends such as-- 7i7 the number of      
initial and continued benefit claims2   
7ii7 average duration of benefits2      
7iii7 average weekly benefit amount2    

7iv7 average time between filing a claim
 and receiving an initial benefit       
payment2 and  7v7 the accuracy of       
benefit payment amounts4  7#e7          
,additional uses ,additional activities1
 including-- 7,a7 hiring and            
compensating staff2  7,b7 formulating   
guidance1 recommendations1 and best     
practices for ,states2  7,c7 providing  
training on program administration2     
7,d7 providing technical assistance to  
,states2 and  7,e7 creating or          
leveraging technology essential for the 
success and effectiveness of the        
,i-,,plan4  7c7 ,duration of award  7#a7
 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71
 the period during which payments are   
made to an entity from an award of a    
grant under subsection 7a7 shall be #e  
years4  7#b7 ,compliance ,the ,secretary
 shall annually evaluate whether the    
national intermediary is complying with 
the requirements of this ,act and1 if   
the ,secretary determines that the      
national intermediary is not so         

complying1 shall withhold any payment or
 part of the payment to the national    
intermediary under this section for the 
following fiscal year unless and until  
the ,secretary determines the national  
intermediary has remedied such          
compliance issue4  7d7 ,national        
intermediary oversight ,the ,secretary  
shall-- 7#a7 monitor the national       
intermediary to ensure compliance with  
the requirements of this ,act2  7#b7    
provide technical assistance to assist  
the national intermediary with such     
compliance2 and  7#c7 require regular   
reports on the performance of the       
national intermediary1 including on the 
roadmap under section #c7;a77#e71 the   
use of funds under section #d7;b71 and  
other methods of evaluation4  #e4       
,grants to eligible ,states  7a7        
,conforming grants  7#a7 ,in general    
7,a7 ,authority to make grants ,subject 
to the availability of appropriations   
under section #f7;b71 the ,secretary1   
acting through the ,employment and      

,training ,administration1 shall1 on an 
annual basis1 make a conforming grant to
 each eligible ,state4  7,b7 ,amount of 
grant  7i7 ,in general ,a grant to an   
eligible ,state under this subsection   
shall be--  7,i7 not less than          
#a1ejj1jjj and not more than #h1jjj1jjj2
 and  7,,ii7 subject to subclause 7,i71 
awarded on the basis of the relative    
annual level of employment 7as published
 by the ,current ,employment ,statistics
 program of the ,,bls7 of the eligible  
,state1 compared to the annual level of 
employment in all eligible ,states4     
7ii7 ,adjustment ,the amounts specified 
in clause 7i7 shall be ratably increased
 or decreased to the extent that funds  
available under section #f7;b7 exceed or
 are less than 7respectively7 the amount
 required to provide the amounts        
specified in clause 7i74  7#b7 ,eligible
 ,states  7,a7 ,in general ,to be       
eligible to receive a grant under       
paragraph 7#a71 a ,state shall--  7i7   
have a ,state focal2 and  7ii7          

participate in the ,i-,,plan in good    
faith4  7,b7 ,good faith requirement    
7i7 ,withholding ,if the ,secretary1 in 
consultation with the national          
intermediary awarded the grant under    
section #d7;a71 determines that a ,state
 is not participating in the ,i-,,plan  
in good faith1 the ,secretary-- 7,i7    
shall provide warning and feedback to   
,states in a prompt manner2 and  7,,ii7 
if1 six months after the date on which  
the ,secretary provides such warning and
 feedback1 the ,secretary determines    
such ,state continues not to participate
 in the ,i-,,plan in good faith1 the    
,secretary may elect to withhold a      
portion or the total amount of a grant  
under paragraph 7#a7 to such ,state4    
7ii7 ,restoration ,if the ,secretary    
elects to withhold an amount from a     
,state under clause 7i77,,ii71 the      
,secretary may later elect to provide   
the amount so withheld to such ,state if
 the ,secretary later determines that   
such ,state is participating in good    

faith4  7b7 ,implementation grants  7#a7
 ,in general  7,a7 ,authority to make   
grants ,subject to the availability of  
appropriations under section #f7;c71 the
 ,secretary1 acting through the         
,employment and ,training               
,administration1 shall1 on an annual    
basis1 make an implementation grant to  
each eligible ,state4  7,b7 ,amount of  
grant  7i7 ,in general ,a grant to an   
eligible ,state under this subsection   
shall be--  7,i7 not less than          
#a1ejj1jjj and not more than #h1jjj1jjj2
 and  7,,ii7 subject to subclause 7,i71 
awarded on the basis of the relative    
annual level of employment 7as published
 by ,current ,employment ,statistics    
program of the ,,bls7 of the eligible   
,state1 compared to the annual level of 
employment in all eligible ,states4     
7ii7 ,adjustment ,the amounts specified 
in clause 7i7 shall be ratably increased
 or decreased to the extent that funds  
available under section #f7;c7 exceed or
 are less than 7respectively7 the amount

 required to provide the amounts        
specified in clause 7i74  7#b7          
,eligibility  7,a7 ,in general ,subject 
to subparagraph 7,b71 to be eligible to 
receive a grant under paragraph 7#a71 a 
,state shall--  7i7 meet the            
requirements of subsection 7a77#b77;,a72
 and  7ii7 have entered into the        
,i-,,plan ,agreement4  7,b7 ,limitation 
,a ,state described in subparagraph 7,a7
 shall be ineligible to receive a grant 
for any fiscal year beginning after the 
date that is #d years after the date on 
which such ,state enters into the       
,i-,,plan ,agreement in which such      
,state does not meet the requirements of
 such ,agreement4  7c7 ,use of funds ,a 
,state may use grants received under    
this section--  7#a7 to help pay        
administrative costs1 including costs   
related to-- 7,a7 customer service2     
7,b7 staffing and training2  7,c7       
technology2  7,d7 data sharing2  7,e7   
identity validation2 and  7,f7 program  
awareness2 and  7#b7 to help small      

businesses1 as defined by the ,state1   
afford employer payroll contributions or
 access other forms of technical and    
operational assistance related to ,state
 paid family and medical leave4  #f4    
,authorization of appropriations  7a7   
,national intermediary grant ,there are 
authorized to be appropriated not more  
than #aj1jjj1jjj for the purposes of    
section #d for each of fiscal years     
#bjbf through #bjbh4  7b7 ,conforming   
grants ,there are authorized to be      
appropriated not more than #dj1jjj1jjj  
for the purposes of section #e7;a7 for  
each of fiscal years #bjbf through      
#bjbh4  7c7 ,implementation grants      
,there are authorized to be appropriated
 not more than #dj1jjj1jjj for the      
purposes of section #e7;b7 for each of  
fiscal years #bjbf through #bjbh4