The Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) has issued emergency regulations for the paid family and medical leave (PFML) program. The regulations extend MAPFML coverage to personal care attendants and family child care providers and clarify that family leave is allowed for child bonding for 2020 births and adoptions. The regulations were finalized December 21, 2020 and include:

  • Personal Care Attendants and Family Care Providers have been added to the MAPFML program’s definition of “covered individual".

  • Child Bonding Leave - births, adoptions, and foster care placements that occurred during 2020 are qualifying events for family leave in 2021, as long as the leave is completed within the calendar year 2021 and taken during the first 12 months after the child’s birth, adoption, or foster care placement.

Most MAPFML benefits became available on January 1, 2021.