July 27, 2023 Maine law establishes a state paid family and medical leave program with contributions starting in 2025 On July 11, 2023, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed into law SP 800, which establishes a state paid family and Medical leave (PFML) program. Employers will begin collecting the premium effective January 1, 2025, and PFML benefits will begin May 1, 2026. The program will be administered by the Maine Department of Labor (Department). (Maine Department of Labor website.) Covered employers Covered employers include:
The federal government is exempt from the requirement to participate in the program. PFML Premium rate Beginning January 1, 2025, the premium may not be more than a combined rate of 1% of wages up to the federal Social Security wage base. The premium rate will be adjusted annually for inflation starting in 2028. Employers with 15 or more employees pay 100% of the premium but may deduct up to 50% from employees' wages. Employers with fewer than 15 employees may deduct 50% of the premium from employees' wages but are not required to pay the remaining 50%. Covered wages are defined as "actual compensation paid to an employee for the performance of services." PFML benefits Covered individuals are eligible for up to 12 weeks of family leave, 12 weeks of medical leave and an aggregate of not more than 16 weeks for both family and medical leave in an application year. Medical leave is available for a serious health condition that makes the covered individual unable to perform the job functions for the position held by that covered individual. A serious health condition is an illness, injury, impairment, pregnancy, recovery from childbirth or physical, mental or psychological condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice or residential medical care center or continuing treatment by a health care provider. Family leave is available for any of the following reasons:
Employer notice requirements Employers are required to post in a conspicuous place at each workplace location a notice of the PFML benefits available. The notice must be in English and each other primary language of three or more of its employees at that workplace location. Employers are also required to give notice to each employee not more than 30 days from the employee's beginning date of employment. The notice must include the following information:
Private plans An employer may apply for approval of a private plan that confers the same rights, protections and benefits provided to employees under the state plan. Employers with an approved private plan are not required to participate in the state program. Ernst & Young LLP insights Maine joins 15 other jurisdictions (California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington) that are now operating, or will soon be operating, paid family and medical leave insurance programs. For more information about these state plans, see our 2023 US employment tax rates and limits special report. ———————————————
Published by NTD’s Tax Technical Knowledge Services group; Andrea Ben-Yosef, legal editor | |||||||||