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Sen. Devlin Robinson called the new manufacturing law a monumental step forward for Pennsylvania’s economic growth and technological advancement. PHOTO/PACAST
Pa. moves closer to state’s first paid family and medical leave program
Listen to this articleThe Senate Labor & Industry Committee approved the Family Care Act Tuesday by an 8-3 bipartisan vote.
Senate Bill 580 now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
The legislation would create for the first time in Pennsylvania a pro-family statewide paid family and medical leave program. The Family Care Act will allow workers to bond with their baby following birth or care for a seriously ill family member without sacrificing their financial stability.
“Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted paid leave programs, and I am hopeful that Pennsylvania can join that,” Committee Chair Devlin Robinson, R-Allegheny, said in a statement. “This bill is critically important to my constituents and workers across the state.”
Robinson is co-lead of the legislation along with Sen. Maria Collett, D-Montgomery.
Two-thirds or approximately 4.3 million of Pennsylvania workers don’t have access to paid family and medical leave. By establishing a paid family and medical leave program in Pennsylvania, the Family Care Act would allow the following:
- Parents to be there for their newborn following birth or care for their child during an illness.
- Family members to provide critical care for elderly loved ones.
- Workers care for themselves following a major surgery.
- Military families to adjust to the deployment of a family member.
“Today, the Senate took an important bipartisan step toward making access to paid family and medical leave a reality for all Pennsylvania working families,” said Dan O’Brien, policy manager of Education and Family Stability at Children First. “Paid leave is both a pro-family and pro-business initiative that is emphatically supported by the majority of Pennsylvanians, regardless of their political affiliation.
“Now that the Family Care Act is ready for full floor votes in both the state House and Senate, it’s time for lawmakers to come together and make paid leave a reality so PA workers aren’t forced to choose between their loved ones or their hard-earned financial stability,” added O’Brien, co-chair of the PA Family Care Coalition.
