News Archives
September 12, 2007
Paid Family Leave Legislation Advances
On May 24 2007 legislation (S-2249) seeking to establish a paid family leave program was released from the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee by a vote of 8-6. The vote was mostly along party lines, with Democrats voting in favor and Republicans opposing. Crossing party lines, Senator Nick Asselta (R-1) voted in favor of the bill and Senator Shirley Turner (D-15) voted against the bill. The bill also received bi-partisan support and passed the Senate Labor Committee in February 2007.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO would like to thank Senator Steve Sweeney and Senator Barbara Buono for their sponsorship and leadership on this issue as well as Senate President Codey for posting the bill for consideration. We would also like to thank all of the union affiliates that supported the bill in Committee as well as the many religious, community, minority, non-profit and women organizations that have partnered with organized labor in the coalition to support this pro-working family legislation.
Committee amendments reduced the number of weeks for leave from 12 to 10, and also caped the level of taxable income at $26,600. To view the testimony of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, please CLICK HERE.
The bill is now pending a vote by the State Senate. The Assembly companion, A-3812 sponsored by Assembly members Albano (D-1), Panter (D-12), Oliver (D-34) and Van Drew (D-1) is pending in the Assembly Labor Committee.
You can view our current E-Activist campaign on Paid Family Leave by Clicking Here