Act 183 which was signed into law in June of 2022 is designed to offer support to employers whose staff has been impacted by COVID-19. The COVID-19 Paid Leave Grant Program includes over $15 million of grant capacity to allow employees paid leave outside of normal sick leave for reasons related to the virus. The program covers leave from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 to either allow paid leave during an absense or even to provide retroactive leave payments to employees previously unpaid. Some restrictions apply and you can learn more by visiting the Department of Financial Regulations website for more information and application instructions.

COVID-19-related reasons for leave as defined in Act 183 are:

1. Self-isolating because the employee has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or tested positive for COVID-19.
2. Self-isolating pursuant to the recommendation of a health care provider or a State or federal public health official because the employee has been exposed to COVID-19 or the employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
3. Caring for a parent, grandparent, spouse, child, sibling, parent-in-law, grandchild, or foster child because:
   1. the school or place of care where that individual is normally located during the employee’s workday is closed due to COVID-19;
   2. that individual has been requested not to attend the school or place of care where that individual is normally located during the employee’s workday due to COVID-19;
   3. that individual has been diagnosed with or tested positive for COVID-19; or
   4. that individual is self-isolating pursuant to the recommendation of a health care provider or a State or federal public health official because that individual has been exposed to or is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
4. Attending an appointment for the employee or the employee’s parent, grandparent, spouse, child, sibling, parent-in-law, grandchild, or foster child to receive a vaccine or vaccine booster for protection against COVID-19.
5. Experiencing symptoms, or caring for a parent, grandparent, spouse, child, sibling, parent-in-law, grandchild, or foster child who is experiencing symptoms, related to a vaccine or a vaccine booster for protection against COVID-19.

Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to available funding, The term “spouse” in the list above includes civil union partners and domestic partners.

The Commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) has been charged with overseeing this program.

• Employers may apply just once per quarter beginning October 1, 2022 and ending September 30, 2023.
• The maximum number of employee leave hours reimbursed is limited to the lesser of 40 hours per employee or the employee’s average weekly hours over the prior six months.
• There is also a per hour maximum of $21.25 with an aggregate limit of $850 per employee.