Overview
- The House Fraud and State Agency Oversight Committee questioned DEED on how it will detect and prevent fraudulent claims in the new program.
- DEED outlined multi-factor authentication, identity proofing, employer attestations, medical documentation, and a fraud-reporting portal as key safeguards.
- The statewide program starts Jan. 1 and offers up to 12 weeks each for family and medical leave with a 20-week annual maximum, replacing 55–90% of wages.
- The initiative will be funded by a new payroll tax beginning in January and requires about 400 state hires with nearly $1 billion in start-up costs.
- Gov. Tim Walz voiced confidence in a smooth rollout, while some employers cautioned that overlapping leaves could strain staffing.