Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Chapter 149 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 52C the following section:-

Section 52D. (a) As used in this section, terms shall have the meanings assigned to them by the federal act, notwithstanding any contrary provision of section 1 of this chapter. In addition, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

"Elderly relative", an individual of at least 60 years of age who is related by blood or marriage to the employee, including a parent.

"Federal act", sections 101 to 105, inclusive, of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 29 U.S.C. sections 2611 to 2615, inclusive, as it may be amended.

"School", a public or private elementary or secondary school; a Head Start program assisted under the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. sections 9831 et seq.;

and a children's day care facility licensed under chapter 28A.

(b) An eligible employee shall be entitled to a total of 24 hours of leave during any 12-month period, in addition to leave available under the federal act, to:

(1) participate in school activities directly related to the educational advancement of a son or daughter of the employee, such as parent-teacher conferences or interviewing for a new school;

(2) accompany the son or daughter of the employee to routine medical or dental appointments, such as check-ups or vaccinations; and

(3) accompany an elderly relative of the employee to routine medical or dental appointments or appointments for other professional services related to the elder's care, such as interviewing at nursing or group homes.

(c) Unless this section provides otherwise, the terms of the federal act shall apply to leave under this section. As provided in section 102(d)(2)(A) of the federal act, 29 U.S.C. section 2612(d)(2)(A),

an eligible employee may elect, or an employer may require the employee, to substitute any of the accrued paid vacation leave, personal leave, or medical or sick leave of the employee for any of the leave provided under this section, but nothing in this section shall require an employer to provide paid sick leave or paid medical leave in any situation in which the employer would not normally provide any such paid leave. Leave under this section may be taken intermittently or on a reduced leave schedule.

(d) If the necessity for leave under this section is foreseeable, the employee shall provide the employer with not less than seven days' notice before the date the leave is to begin. If the necessity for leave is not foreseeable, the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable.

(e) An employer may require that a request for leave under this section be supported by a certification issued at such time and in such manner as the attorney general may by regulation require.

(f) The attorney general shall enforce this section, and may obtain injunctive or declaratory relief for this purpose. Violation of this section shall be subject to the second paragraph of section 150 and to section 180.

Approved May 6, 1998.