Senator David Carlucci Calls for Paid Family Leave

Senator David Carlucci hosted a press conference on Friday, March 27^th at the “Just for Kids Daycare” center calling for the legislature and Governor Cuomo to include paid family leave in the 2015 New York State budget.

In New York State, only twelve percent of all workers are provided with Family Leave Insurance (FLI) from their employers. Additionally, over 40% of employees nationwide qualify for unpaid leave through the national Family and Medical Leave Act. This leaves many families with an impossible choice between being able to take care of their newborn, or be able to earn the income they need to make ends meet.

“In New York State, we leave many families with the impossible choice between being able to bond and take care of their newborn, or earn the income they need to provide for their family,” said Senator David Carlucci. “I am pushing to pass legislation that will provide paid family leave, affording new parents the opportunity to adjust to their new life, and return back to work as healthy and productive employees. In the United States, we lag shamefully behind the rest of the world in providing paid family leave for our workers. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the legislature to develop a plan that is beneficial for our new families and businesses.”

Currently three states, California, New Jersey and Rhode Island have paid family leave insurance programs that provide the program through their Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) systems.

After co-hosting a joint hearing of the Labor and Social Services Committee last week, Senator Carlucci is proposing to amend the TDI program to include Family Leave Insurance (FLI) covering:

• Leave to bond with a new child during the twelve months following their birth, adoption, or foster care placement; and
• Leave to care for a family member suffering from a serious health condition.

Workers will be able to claim a weekly benefit equal to half their weekly wage, up to a maximum benefit of 35% of the average weekly wage, increasing incrementally to 50% over three years. This benefit may be claimed for up to six weeks a year. Importantly, disability leave currently allowed for complications arising from sickness, injury, or pregnancy will be count against these six weeks of child care leave.

The program will cover all parents, regardless of sex, and benefit will be available to private-sector employees who work in businesses with 25 or more employees. Additionally, public sector employees will be included.