Legislation would create statewide Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program

The recently introduced bipartisan The Family Care Act would establish a statewide family and medical leave insurance program.

If the bill becomes law, employees will make small contributions from their weekly earnings to the leave program. The fund then would be used when employees must take time off work to care for a close family member with a serious health condition, a new baby or, under certain circumstances, a member of the military. They also can use the fund to take time off for severe personal health conditions.

Benefits would be determined on a graduated scale to ensure the program is accessible regardless of how much employees earn.

The Department of Labor & Industry would administer the program.

“The program created by this legislation would provide a basic ‘safety net’ that would allow for some financial stability for families during their time of need,” Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie), who cosponsored the bill, said. “In times of crisis, especially when it involves a serious health issue, families have enough to be concerned about without having to worry about how they are going to pay their bills.”

People shouldn’t have to choose between a sick family member and their job, Maria Collett (D-Montgomery/Bucks), the bill’s cosponsor, said.