Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §844, as amended by PL 1997, c. 515, §1, is further amended to read:

§844. Family medical leave requirement

1. Family medical leave entitlement. Every employee who has been employed by the same employer for 12 consecutive months is entitled to up to 10 12 consecutive work weeks of family medical leave in any 2 years unless employed at a permanent work site with fewer than 15 employees. The following conditions apply to family medical leave granted under this subchapter:

A. The employee must give at least 30 days' notice of the intended date upon which family medical leave will commence and terminate, unless prevented by medical emergency from giving that notice;

B. The employer may require certification from a physician to verify the amount of leave requested by the employee, except that an employee who in good faith relies on treatment by prayer or spiritual means, in accordance with the tenets and practice of a recognized church or religious denomination, may submit certification from an accredited practitioner of those healing methods; and

C. The employer and employee may negotiate for more or less leave, but both parties must agree.

2. Unpaid leave. Family medical leave granted under this subchapter may consist of unpaid leave. If an employer provides paid family medical leave for fewer than 10 12 weeks, the additional weeks of leave added to attain the total of 10 12 weeks required may be unpaid.

Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §848, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 661, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§848. Judicial enforcement

A civil action may be brought in the appropriate court by an employee against any employer to enforce this subchapter.__The court may do any of the following.

1.__Enjoin act.__The court may enjoin any act or practice that violates or may violate this subchapter.

2.__Equitable relief.__The court may order any other equitable relief that is necessary and appropriate to redress the