State workers with children stuck at home may take up to 12 weeks of paid leave under a federal law that went into effect Wednesday, according to the California Department of Human Resources.

The department clarified the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which requires most employers to provide sick leave along with family and medical leave this year, applies to California state workers.

The law provides two weeks of sick leave at full pay for people who meet certain conditions.

One of the conditions is having a child whose school or daycare has been canceled. The sick leave is also available for workers who must stay home under a quarantine order from a public health official or a doctor, those who are taking care of someone who is quarantined, and those who have COVID-19-like symptoms and are seeking a medical diagnosis, according to the law.

The broad stay-at-home directives that have been issued by local officials and Gov. Gavin Newsom do not trigger the sick leave from the federal law, CalHR spokesman Andrew LaMar said.

The sick leave is available in addition to state workers’ accrued leave, so using it does not reduce leave balances, LaMar said.

The law also provides 10 weeks of family and medical leave at two-thirds pay for parents with children at home. The ten weeks at two-thirds pay are available after two unpaid weeks of leave, which may concur with the two weeks of paid sick leave.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond told school districts on Tuesday that schools would remain closed for the rest of the academic year. The federal law makes the sick leave and expanded family and medical leave available through 2020.

Employees who plan to use the leave “shall provide their employer with such notice of leave as is practicable,” according to the CalHR guidance.

“Employers may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise discriminate against any employee based upon the employee’s use of (the leave),” the guidance continues.

The federal government is reimbursing employers through tax credits for the paid leave, according to the federal law.

The law cleared Congress on March 18. It extends through the end of the year, and applies to “certain public employers” along with people who work for private companies with fewer than 500 employees.

Businesses with fewer than 50 employees may be exempt if the law would jeopardize their viability, according to the law.

This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 11:33 AM with the headline "Coronavirus relief law gives California state workers with children 12 weeks paid leave."