Paid Family Leave Passes the Assembly Appropriations Committee!

 Paid Family Leave Legislation
(A-873) passes the Assembly Appropriations Committee;
Goes to Full Assembly for vote.

New Jersey’s working families won a victory today as A873 Paid Family Leave passed the Assembly Appropriations committee by a vote of 8 to 4. 

Substituting at today’s committee hearing: Assemblyman Albano for Assemblyman Gusciora and Assemblyman Burzachelli for Assemblyman Wiesinewski.

In response to an opinion by the Attorney General’s Office that validated concerns about potential lawsuits, A873 was amended to include language that would protect small business from a lawsuit without changing the intent of the bill.  

A873 was merged with its’ senate counterpart S786 and will now go to the full assembly for a vote on Thursday, March 13th.  If passed by the assembly, the amended bill will return to the senate for a final vote!

Voting Yes – Pou, Vainieri Huttle, Barnes, Conaway, Greenwald, Albano, Ramos and Burzachelli.

Voting No – Addiego, Doherty, Merkt and Thompson

 

 

 

 

A873 Extends TDI to provide family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members, newborn and newly adopted children.  Click here to read the bill

 

 

WHAT IS FAMILY LEAVE INSURANCE?

 

  • Provides up to 6 weeks of benefits over a 12-month period for anyone who takes leave to bond with a new born or newly adopted child or to care for an ill child, parent, spouse or domestic partner.
     

  • Family Leave Insurance will provide two-thirds of a worker’s usual wage, with a maximum of $524 a week in 2008. The limit will rise yearly to keep up with the cost of living.

WHY DO WE NEED FAMILY LEAVE INSURANCE?

 

Balancing the demands of job and family is a tremendous challenge; for many it is insurmountable under the current rules. More women with children work than ever before and there are more single-parent households. Meanwhile, many businesses find it hard to recruit, train and keep skilled workers. A family leave insurance program means workers, business and government come together to create a wining situation for everyone. Family Leave Insurance is an investment in New Jersey’s workers and its economic prosperity.