Sec.31-51qq-51. What certification is required for leave taken because of a qualifying exigency?

(a) Active Duty Orders. The first time an employee requests leave because of a qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, arising out of the active duty, or notification of an impending call or order to active duty, of a military member in the Armed Forces, an employer may require the employee to provide a copy of the military member's active duty orders or other documentation issued by the military which indicates that the military member is on active duty status, or has been notified of an impending call to active duty status, and the dates of the military member's active duty service. This information need only be provided to the employer once. A copy of new active duty orders or other documentation issued by the military may be required by the employer if the need for leave because of a qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, arises out of a different active duty status or notification of an impending call to active duty status, of the same or a different military member.

(b) Required information. An employer may require that leave for any qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, be supported by a certification from the employee that sets forth the following information:

(1) A statement or description, signed by the employee, of appropriate facts regarding the qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, for which FMLA leave is requested. The facts shall be sufficient to support the need for leave. Such facts should include information on the type of qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, for which leave is requested and any available written documentation which supports the request for leave; such documentation, for example, may include a copy of a meeting announcement for informational briefings sponsored by the military, a document confirming an appointment with a counselor or school official, or a copy of a bill for services for the handling of legal or financial affairs;

(2) The approximate date on which the qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, commenced or will commence;

(3) If an employee requests leave because of a qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, for a single, continuous period of time, the beginning and end dates for such absence;

(4) If an employee requests leave because of a qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, on an intermittent or reduced schedule basis, an estimate of the frequency and duration of the qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies;

(5) If the qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, involves meeting with a third party, appropriate contact information for the individual or entity with whom the employee is meeting (such as the name, title, organization, address, telephone number, fax number, and email address) and a brief description of the purpose of the meeting; and

(6) If the qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, involves Rest and Recuperation leave, a copy of the military member's Rest and Recuperation orders, or other documentation issued by the military which indicates that the military member has been granted Rest and Recuperation leave, and the dates of the military member's Rest and Recuperation leave.

(c) The Labor Department has developed an optional prototype form for employees' use in obtaining a certification that meets FMLA's certification requirements, which may be obtained on the Labor Department’s website. This optional form reflects certification requirements so as to permit the employee to furnish appropriate information to support his or her request for leave because of a qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. The optional certification form, or another form containing the same basic information, may be used by the employer; however, no information may be required beyond that specified in this section.

(d) Verification. If an employee submits a complete and sufficient certification to support his or her request for leave because of a qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, the employer may not request additional information from the employee. However, if the qualifying exigency, as described in section 31-51qq-49 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, involves meeting with a third party, the employer may contact the individual or entity with whom the employee is meeting for purposes of verifying a meeting or appointment schedule and the nature of the meeting between the employee and the specified individual or entity. The employee's permission is not required in order to verify meetings or appointments with third parties, but no additional information may be requested by the employer. An employer also may contact an appropriate unit of the Armed Forces to request verification that a military member is on active duty or has been notified of an impending call to active duty; no additional information may be requested and the employee's permission is not required.

(Effective August 3, 2022)