SB1670 amends the Illinois Family Bereavement Leave Act to add a new category of unpaid leave for the death of a covered companion animal. Under the bill, eligible employees would be entitled to up to one week, or five work days, of unpaid bereavement leave to grieve the death of a pet, and up to two weeks total in a 12-month period if more than one covered companion animal dies during that period. The bill defines “covered companion animal” broadly to include animals commonly considered pets, including canines, felines, equines, and specialty pets.
The bill also makes conforming changes to the existing bereavement leave framework, including timing, notice, and documentation rules. Leave must generally be taken within 60 days of the death, employees must provide 48 hours’ notice when practicable, and employers may request reasonable documentation such as a veterinarian’s verification. The bill leaves the leave unpaid and does not alter the existing bereavement leave entitlements for covered family members or other qualifying reproductive or adoption-related events.
Impact
If enacted, SB1670 would expand the Family Bereavement Leave Act by creating a statutory right to unpaid leave for pet loss, thereby extending workplace leave protections beyond human family members. It would affect employers covered by the Act and eligible employees under the federal FMLA-based definitions already used in Illinois law. The bill would also require employers and the Illinois Department of Labor to apply existing leave administration rules to companion-animal bereavement, including documentation standards and deadlines, while adding a new statutory definition of companion animal.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee testimony or recorded votes, so there is no formal legislative debate reflected in the provided materials. Based on the bill’s subject matter and structure, the measure appears to be framed as a worker-support and grief-recognition proposal rather than a major regulatory change. The caption and text suggest a sympathetic policy approach toward employees experiencing the death of a pet, with the leave remaining unpaid to limit employer cost exposure.
Contention
The most likely points of contention are the expansion of bereavement leave to pets, the potential administrative burden on employers, and the scope of the definition of “covered companion animal.” Employers may be concerned about verification requests, scheduling disruptions, and whether the bill could be difficult to administer consistently. Supporters would likely emphasize that the leave is unpaid and limited in duration, while opponents may question whether pet loss should be treated similarly to family bereavement under state employment law.