Public Health Emergency Response Act

The Public Health Emergency Response Act (HR 4009) creates new paid leave requirements for employees during public health emergencies. It requires employers to provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave (capped at $511 per day) for employees needing to care for family members due to disruptions in childcare or school, or for employees who are ill with a covered infectious disease. The bill provides tax credits to employers who pay for this leave, covering 100% of qualifying wages for businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Self-employed individuals are also eligible for tax credits to cover equivalent leave costs. The law applies to public health emergencies declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on or after January 1, 2022.