Video & Transcript Research : 'disability leave'
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Service Apr 14th, 2026
Joint Committee on Public Service
Transcript Highlights:
- And I will leave it to Jason to explain why this bill matters.
- And I will leave it to Jason to explain why this bill matters so much to him.
Keywords:
retirement benefits, teachers' retirement system, creditable service, public education, emergency law, sick leave bank, leave donation, personal days, vacation days, extended illness leave bank, public employee, county sheriff, Worcester County Sheriff's Office, personnel bill, employee leave, disability leave, illness leave, compassionate leave, Massachusetts public service, police recruitment
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Public Service held its 20th hearing of the 194th General Court to consider late-filed bills, with testimony limited to three minutes and written testimony accepted by email or mail. The committee heard several retirement-related proposals and individual hardship cases, including a bill for Jason Patrici (H5246) seeking creditable service for prior Vermont correctional and probation work so he could retire earlier and join his wife in Wales. Rep. Sabadosa supported the bill, and committee members asked light questions about his plans and service history.
The committee also heard from Beverly Police Chief John Lachillard and Rep. Hannah Bowman on a bill to allow the chief to remain in service beyond the usual retirement age. Bowman said the language had been worked on with House Counsel to include an age cap and health-exam provisions, and members discussed ensuring the bill matched recent precedent and would not run into administrative problems. The chief said he wanted to stay one or two more years to help with a smooth transition and turn the department over in good shape.
Another major topic was House Bill 5359 and Senate Bill 3800, supported by Massachusetts Judges Conference President and District Court Judge Dan DeLorati, to provide judges equitable access to military creditable service. He explained that the 2012 Heroes Act was intended to give judges the same military buyback benefits as other state employees, but the State Retirement Board had denied the benefit because judicial pensions are calculated differently. Committee members generally agreed with the policy goal but emphasized the need to get the statutory language right. The committee also heard from educator Alex Seminello, who described a dispute with MTRS over buying back Rhode Island service after the system had accepted over $100,000 and initially approved the purchase; he asked the committee to require MTRS to honor its agreement. Senator Montigny later spoke in strong support of that petition. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with a motion to adjourn.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Public Pension Oversight Board (12-12-25) - Part 2 Reupload
Transcript Highlights:
- those who are permanently uh disabled those who are permanently uh disabled from<00:08:24.000>
- <00:09:38.399>
officer be 25% of pay to the disabled officer be 25% of pay to the disabled- <00:30:22.240>
in need their aggregated sick leave in need their aggregated sick leave in- order to take off for maternity leave. order to take off for maternity leave.
- If they had 240 days of annual leave, uh, yeah, well, 240 days of sick leave and annual leave, they could
- <00:09:38.399>
Keywords:
Reuploaded to restore a few minutes lost at the end of the meeting
Representative Tackett-Lafferty: 00:22
• Line of Duty Disability Benefits
Representative Grossberg: 26:32
• Loss of TRS Credit Due to Religious Holiday Observance
Representative Blanton: 32:01
• Educational Contracts and Membership Dates in KERS
Representative Tipton and Representative Blanton: 40:55
• Apply SB 10 Changes from 2025 to KERS/SPRS
Senator Higdon: 46:08
• PPOB Reporting on Line of Duty Benefits
• TRS Annual Leave Impact on TRS
• PPOB Membership
• Use of Sick Leave for Religious Holidays
Adjournment: 56:03, 958, all
Summary:
The committee heard testimony from Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty on a bill to extend minimum line-of-duty hazardous duty retirement benefits to certain CERS and KERS non-hazardous members who are injured in the line of duty and cannot return to that work. She used a video and examples from Eastern Kentucky first responders, including a deputy who lost a leg and an emergency management director who lost an eye, to argue that some injured officers and responders fall through the cracks because their employers did not elect hazardous-duty coverage. She said the proposal would provide 25% of pay to the disabled officer, plus 10% for dependent children and minimal health benefits, and noted estimated actuarial costs of about $2.9 million for CERS and $0.542 million for KERS, funded through small employer-rate increases.
Members asked how far back the bill would reach, how many people might qualify, and whether the benefit would apply only to active employees or also to past injuries. Laferty said the bill would include a five-year window for recent situations and could potentially cover a total of 3,333 positions statewide that could be certified as hazardous, though benefits would only apply if the person was injured in the line of duty and disabled from returning to that work. Questions also focused on whether a non-hazardous employee could qualify if injured in a hazardous situation; Laferty said yes, if the position could be certified as hazardous, but only for the bill’s minimum benefits. Rep. Josh Calloway and others noted that local governments choose whether to pay the higher hazardous-duty contribution rates, which they said often drives the coverage decision.
The committee then heard Rep. Daniel Gberg present a separate bill revising school leave rules so teachers and school employees may use accumulated sick leave to observe religious holidays not on the school calendar, with a required personal statement and advance notice. He said the change would address a longstanding inconsistency for teachers who observe non-Christian holidays and currently may have to choose between unpaid leave or improperly using sick days, and he said prior concerns about retirement service credit and maternity leave were reduced by other policy changes. The discussion ended without a vote, with members indicating they had the relevant materials and that the bill would be revisited later.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee 3rd Revision: Oreder revised Feb 18th, 2026 at 04:30 pm
A&B Education Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- because I think teachers have break times, they have lunch times, they have planning periods where they leave
Keywords:
extracurricular activities, charter schools, student eligibility, virtual education, Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, prayer, religious freedom, public schools, consent, First Amendment, school policy, paid maternity leave, school employees, public health, childcare, work-life balance, education, family leave, tuition, grant
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Apr 9th, 2025
Ways and Means General Fund
Transcript Highlights:
- I know it's an extremely busy day and I know some of you got to leave early, so we'll get started.
- There is no language that states that any retiree gets any benefit once they leave service.
- So, a qualifying event is not readily defined in this bill, and therefore leaves a lot of room for interpretation
Keywords:
firefighter benefits, occupational disease, line of duty, disability pension, death benefits, retirement benefits, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer presumption, HIV, hepatitis, municipal firefighters, state firefighters, fire districts, workers' compensation, public safety employees, post-retirement benefits, benefit eligibility cutoff, occupational illness
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- Is it moving them to permanent disability quicker if they're not able, if they are disabled?
- disabled.
- Is it moving them to permanent disability quicker if they're not able, if they are disabled?
- disabled.
- disability.
Keywords:
employment discrimination, criminal history, rehabilitation, hiring process, human rights, gender identity, sexual orientation, workplace equality, labor rights, domestic abuse, unpaid leave, employee rights, workplace protection, mental health, survivor support, workers' compensation, employment benefits, claims process, fraud prevention, legal petition
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee Apr 6th, 2026 at 10:30 am
A&B Education Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 1204 allows for three days of paid bereavement leave for our educators and support personnel
- The state has made movements for paid maternity leave, but we should also be there for our teachers on
- However, after conversations with SDE, they actually have carryover funds from the maternity leave, so
Keywords:
mathematics, student assessment, dyscalculia, intervention services, educational funding, professional development, state department of education, school employees, teachers, support personnel, support employees, public schools, school districts, bereavement leave, paid leave, grief leave, family leave, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, maternity leave
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Mann, to explain Your amendment adds that the money for this paid leave will come from the public
- school paid maternity leave revolving fund.
- Senate Bill 1204 provides Oklahoma teachers and school employees 3 days of bereavement leave following
- because the Department of Education believes that they have the money currently in the paid maternity leave
- So if it's coming out of the maternity leave revolving fund, and I guess I need to understand it.
Keywords:
longevity pay, state employees, Oklahoma government, salary increase, emergency declaration, capital planning, funding allocation, state budget, infrastructure, emergency measures, income tax credit, qualified project, economic development, infrastructure funding, small population areas, school employees, teachers, support personnel, support employees, public schools
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/26
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:02:13.640>
child Imagine you have a dis- disabled child Imagine you have a dis- disabled - They just don't leave a don't eat.
- paid leave in our lifetimes.
- paid family medical leave. paid family medical leave.
- leave depends on what the worker needs. leave depends on what the worker needs.
Keywords:
workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, paid leave, small employers, employment law, Minnesota Statutes, workforce development, HF4569, Minnesota Paid Leave Law, protected leave, seasonal employee, seasonal worker, hospitality, hospitality industry, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer certification
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm going to leave that decision up to the chairman of Ways and Means.
- I'm going to leave that decision up to the chairman of Ways and Means.
- I'm going to leave that decision up to the chairman of Ways and Means.
- I'm going to leave that decision up to the chairman of Ways and Means.
- offering very good short-term disability offering very good short-term disability programs<00:32
Bills:
HF11
Keywords:
Minnesota Paid Leave, paid family and medical leave, family leave, medical leave, implementation delay, premium collection, employer premiums, state payroll tax, workforce, labor, benefits administration, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer notice, seasonal employees, private plans, actuarial study, outreach and education, employee rights, reinstatement
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- benefits and paid leave benefits at the same time.
- leave.
- the economy already has a lot of paid leave.
- people want to be able to have the leave people want to be able to have the leave there<00:09:22.959
- the entire Paid Family Medical Leave the entire Paid Family Medical Leave program<00:32:05.399><
Bills:
HF11
Keywords:
Minnesota Paid Leave, paid family and medical leave, family leave, medical leave, implementation delay, premium collection, employer premiums, state payroll tax, workforce, labor, benefits administration, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer notice, seasonal employees, private plans, actuarial study, outreach and education, employee rights, reinstatement
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Local Government.(6-23-26)
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- As a result, when an officer leaves As a result, when an officer leaves shortly<00:05:22.160>
- And so they don't leave this profession.
- <00:15:20.040>
the out why they chose to leave the out why they chose to leave the profession - /c> Uh if one leaves, uh Uh if one leaves, uh these<00:44:13.920>
guys <00:44:14.240>were - <00:59:11.440>
for, leave for, leave for, you<00:59:12.680>know, <00:59:12.800>an - <00:59:11.440>
Bills:
HB339
Keywords:
Civil Air Patrol, CAP, emergency leave, job protection, employment discrimination, leave of absence, volunteer service, emergency response, Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, state employee leave, military leave, public employees, local government employers, reinstatement rights, seniority protection, unpaid leave, Meeting Start 00:00:03
Roll Call 00:00:14
Discussion of Local Law Enforcement Issues 00:03:08
Discussion of Civil Air Patrol Employment Protections 00:50:46
Adjournment 01:06:07, 958, all
TX
Bills:
HB 148, HB 334, HB 554, HB 762, HB 1520, HB 1593, HB 3526, HB 3810, HB 5092, SB 2215, HB 2607
Keywords:
family leave, leave pool, county employee, sick leave, vacation leave, family care, pandemic, guardianship, severance pay, political subdivision, contract termination, misconduct, public funds, suicide prevention, peer support, fire departments, mental health, advisory committee, fiscal transparency, local government
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs Apr 30th, 2025
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Specifically, the bill includes firefighters in the mental health leave requirements in current statute
- Employers will be... ...required to provide firefighters with mental health leave days and develop a
- mental health leave policy that lists the available mental health resources in the local area.
- ...in a situation, you know, to be able to get the support that they need, also to be able to take leave
- To put it simply, this bill will grant... ...firefighters the same mental health care leave that their
Bills:
HB 1065, HB2929, HB2956, HB3009, HB3420, HB3626, HB3649, HB4956, HB4993, HB5293, HB5308, HB5528, HCR118, SB36, HB4023, SB 36
Keywords:
employee classification, private security, misclassification, workforce regulations, Texas Workforce Commission, autism, peace officers, training program, law enforcement, intervention, communication, developmental disability, family violence, central database, criminal offense, registration, public safety, violent offenses, criminal database, Department of Public Safety
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs Apr 30th, 2025
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- His physical and cognitive disabilities made it impossible for him to comply quickly with commands.
- But tragically, the officers didn't realize. that he was disabled, and now a young life is gone because
- When my son leaves the house, I worry, not because he's doing something wrong, but because someone might
- It protects individuals with disabilities and it protects officers as well.
- Testifying on behalf of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, Richard is neutral on the bill
Bills:
SB 36, HB 1065, HB2929, HB2956, HB3009, HB3420, HB3626, HB3649, HB4956, HB4993, HB5293, HB5308, HB5528, HCR118, SB36, HB4023
Keywords:
transportation, regional authorities, mobility, infrastructure, sales tax, employee classification, private security, misclassification, workforce regulations, Texas Workforce Commission, autism, peace officers, training program, law enforcement, intervention, communication, developmental disability, family violence, central database, criminal offense
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/13/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- goals of the paid family medical leave goals of the paid family medical leave uh<00:09:27.800>
- programs that include paid time off, short-term leave, long-term leave, and sick and vacation time.
- Paid Family Leave.
- , people get less leave, and get less amount of time to be on leave.
- , people get less leave, and get less amount of time to be on leave.
Bills:
HF1976
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Service Jun 3rd, 2026
Joint Committee on Public Service
Transcript Highlights:
- Just last week I was at a fundraiser with him and the union, raising money in concert with kids in disability
- at a fundraiser with him and the union, Chelmsford Union, raising money in concert with kids in disability
- with him and the Union, Chelmsford Union, raising money, raising money in concert with kids in disability
- If there's one message I want to leave this committee today, it is that this legislation only fixes the
- At 28 years old, should he be expected to survive on the disability benefits calculated from a part-time
Keywords:
retirement benefits, police officer, surviving spouse, pension, public service, police chief, deputy police chief, civil service exemption, local governance, Medford, H5384, Craig Riley, Haverhill, firefighter, fire department, civil service, civil service examination, maximum age requirement, age waiver, age exemption
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- First bill of the day will be House Bill 591 by Representative Green that creates the Paid Family Leave
- that creates a voluntary private market insurance product that allows employers to offer paid family leave
- wage replacement when workers need time for a new child, a sick family member, or military-related leave
- that creates a voluntary private market insurance product that allows employers to offer paid family leave
- wage replacement when workers need time for a new child, a sick family member, or military-related leave
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on County & Regional Government Mar 24th, 2025
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- The chair moves to leave HB 2379 pending. Is there any objection?
- You need to take it down or leave it up.
- And the chair moves to leave House Bill 583 pending. Is there any objection?
- But we also know comprehensive parental leave programs can also... ...be costly.
- The chair moves to leave HB 334 pending. HB 334 pending, is there any objection?
Keywords:
family leave, leave pool, county employee, sick leave, vacation leave, family care, pandemic, guardianship, fencing, reservoirs, local government, regulation, land use, conservation capacity, property regulation, fence regulation, reservoir safety, county authority, fencing regulations, counties
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Common Education REVISION 2: Link added - HB4359 Feb 4th, 2026 at 03:00 pm
Common Education
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 3467 amends the state's maternity leave. A second, please.
- House Bill 3467 amends the state's maternity leave statute for school teachers to include the adoption
Keywords:
statewide assessments, student testing, testing window, end-of-year testing, Oklahoma Academic Standards, Oklahoma School Testing Program, State Board of Education, grade 3-8, alternate assessment, students with disabilities, special education, cognitive disabilities, assessment calendar, school year calendar, education accountability, academic standards, math intervention, advanced mathematics, course placement, college and career readiness
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- Why are teachers leaving the classroom?
- And the teacher's ready to leave. So that's we just have to protect that pocket of that.
- Over or I'm assuming they are take it or leave it each year.
- some other programs where they get access to leave that they may not have.
- They several years ago adopted this policy when it came to paternity leave and maternity leave.
Bills:
SB843, SB1733, SB1476, SB1237, SB1410, SB1894, SB1272, SB1204, SB1721, SB1725, SB1735, SB1337, SB1339, SB1461, SB1975
Keywords:
school boards, educational governance, conflict of interest, employee relations, Oklahoma statutes, child abuse, reporting requirements, sexual misconduct, law enforcement, school personnel, confidentiality, student safety, land office, land exchange, investment, education funding, real estate management, Teachers' Bill of Rights, education, teachers' rights