Rhode Island has enacted legislation (House Bill 6065), which adds employment protections for bone marrow transplant and living organ donors. House Bill 6065 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
The details
Background
As background, Rhode Island provides wage replacement benefits through temporary caregive insurance to workers in businesses with 50 or more employees who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent or to bond with a new child.
House Bill 6065
The law expands the reasons an employee is eligible for temporary caregiver benefits for any week in which they are unable work because they are a bone marrow transplant donor or a living organ donor.
The law also clarifies that the temporary caregive benefits cover the time needed for any procedures, medical tests and surgeries related to the donation, and are limited to:
- Up to five business days to recover from a bone marrow transplant; and
- Up to 30 business days to recover from a living organ donor transplant.
Next steps
- Review and update temporary leave policies and procedures.
- Train supervisors on the requirements under the law by Jan. 1, 2026.