Effective October 1, 2023, Maryland employers will be required to withhold employee contributions for a newly established paid family and medical leave (PFML) insurance program. Maryland employers with 15 or more employees will be required to contribute to the program. Maryland employers with fewer than 15 employees will not be required to pay employer contributions, but will still be required to withhold employee contributions [S.B. 275, L. 2022].
The new program is likely to cover most employees working in Maryland because the law broadly defines a covered employer as an entity that employs at least one person within the state. To be covered by the program, employees must have worked at least 680 hours during the 12-month period immediately preceding the leave.
Employer and employee contribution rates, including the breakdown of each category as a percentage of total contributions, will be set by the Maryland Secretary of Labor every two years. The initial rates will be announced by June 1, 2023, and will go into effect on October 1, 2023.
Beginning January 1, 2025, eligible employees can qualify to take up to 12 weeks of PFML annually. New parents with a separate illness or crisis might qualify for an additional 12 weeks of PFML annually.
States With PFML Programs
Maryland is the tenth states (plus the District of Columbia) to establish a PFML program. States with PFML programs are: California, Colorado (effective January 1, 2023), Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Maryland (effective October 1, 2023), Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon (effective January 1, 2023), Rhode Island, and Washington.
Interested in more state and local payroll coverage? APA’s PayState Update eNewsletter is perfect for you.
Mavanee Anderson, Esq., is Editor of PayState Update and Payroll Information Resources for the APA.