Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to amend the existing Minnesota Paid Leave Law to include an exemption for members of religious orders. It aims to modify the definition of "covered employment" under this law to specifically exclude certain religious roles from mandatory paid leave provisions.

Main Provisions

• Exemption for Religious Orders: The bill proposes that employment by a duly ordained or licensed minister of a church, or a member of a religious order, when performing duties required by their religious role, will not be considered "covered employment" for the purpose of the Minnesota Paid Leave Law. This means they are exempt from the requirements that apply to other employment sectors regarding paid leave.

• Opt-In Clause: Religious entities that are initially excluded from the requirement of the Minnesota Paid Leave Law can choose to opt-in if they follow the procedures established by the commissioner. If they opt-in, the services provided by their employees will then be considered "covered employment."

• Rulemaking Authority: The commissioner is granted the authority to adopt rules that further define these provisions and establish criteria for what constitutes covered employment in cases where typical definitions may not apply.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill introduces a specific exemption for religious order members from the Minnesota Paid Leave Law, which was not explicitly outlined previously. This change recognizes the unique employment circumstances within religious organizations and provides them with an option to voluntarily participate in the state's paid leave program.

Relevant Terms

• Paid Leave Law
• Religious order
• Covered employment
• Minister
• Opt-in