1. (1) The maximum number of weeks for which a covered individual may take paid family and medical leave and for which family and medical leave insurance benefits are payable for any purpose, or purposes in aggregate, under section 8-13.3-504 (2) in an application year is twelve weeks; except that benefits are payable up to:

   1. (a) An additional four weeks to a covered individual with a serious health condition related to pregnancy complications or childbirth complications; and
   2. (b) For claims arising on or after January 1, 2026, an additional twelve weeks to a covered individual who has a child receiving inpatient care in a neonatal intensive care unit for the duration that the child is receiving care in the neonatal intensive care unit.
2. (2) The first payment of benefits shall be made to an individual within two weeks after the claim is filed, and subsequent payments shall be made every two weeks thereafter.
3. (3) A covered individual may take intermittent leave in increments of either one hour or shorter periods if consistent with the increments the employer typically uses to measure employee leave, except that benefits are not payable until the covered individual accumulates at least eight hours of family and medical leave insurance benefits.
4. (4) The covered individual shall make a reasonable effort to schedule paid family and medical leave under this part 5 so as not to unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.
5. (5) In any case in which the necessity for leave under this part 5 is foreseeable, an employee shall provide notice to the individual's employer with not less than 30 days' notice before the date the leave is to begin of the individual's intention to take leave under this part 5. If the necessity for leave is not foreseeable or providing 30 days' notice is not possible, the individual shall provide the notice as soon as practicable.
6. (6) Nothing in this section entitles a covered individual to more leave than required under this section.

Source: Initiated 2020: Entire part added, Proposition 118, L. 2021, p. 4230, effective upon proclamation of the Governor, December 31, 2020. L. 2025: (1) amended, (SB 25-144), ch. 293, p. 1499, § 1, effective August 6.

Editor's note: (1) This section was originally numbered as 8-13.3-405 in Proposition 118 but was renumbered on revision for ease of location.

(2) Section 3(2) of chapter 293 (SB 25-144), Session Laws of Colorado 2025, provides that the act changing this section applies to paid family and medical leave claimed on or after August 6, 2025.