Colorado has expanded qualifications for sick leave under state law to include bereavement leave and family emergencies caused by inclement weather.

Senate Bill 23-017, signed into law June 1, now allows an employee to take leave under its Healthy Families and Workplaces Act for the following non-health-related reasons:

To “grieve, attend funeral services or a memorial,” or address “financial and legal matters that arise after the death of a family member.”

To “care for a family member whose school or place of care has been closed due to inclement weather, loss of power, loss of heating, loss of water, or other unexpected occurrence or event that results in the closure of the family member’s school or place of care.”

To “evacuate the employee’s residence due to inclement weather, loss of power, loss of heating, loss of water, or other unexpected occurrence or event that results in the need to evacuate the employee’s residence.”

The new law takes effect Aug. 7.

Source: Western Growers