New Jersey May Get Paid Family Leave After State Senate Vote

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/7813

By Jesse Russell

New Jersey is moving a step closer to passing family leave legislation. The controversial legislation passed a Senate Committee on Monday by a vote of 8-6. If it succeeds the act would provide six weeks of paid leave to care for a newborn or a seriously ill family member. A tax on workers salaries would fund the leave pay of up to a maximum of $524 per week.

[KatyaR]

1. Does New Jersey not fall under the federal FMLA laws?

Or is this for state workers only?

[Omaha Steve]

2. I found this

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2008/01/28/daily20.html

Legislation calling for paid family leave in New Jersey narrowly moved from a Senate Committee on an 8-6 vote Monday.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney and Sen. Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, will be considered by the full Senate next.

The proposal, heatedly battled by business groups last year, has been softened from providing 10 weeks of paid leave to six weeks of paid leave to care for a newborn, newly adopted child or a seriously ill family member.

Workers would receive up to two-thirds of their regular salary under the measure, up to a maximum of $524 per week, which would be funded by a tax on workers' salaries. The assessment would amount to 0.14 percent, beginning next Jan. 1, and rise to 0.18 percent in 2010.

"By passing this legislation, New Jersey would join California and Minnesota in the forefront of providing necessary leave time for families," said Sweeney, D-Gloucester. "Opponents of this bill say that companies cannot afford to offer this leave time, but I say that they cannot afford not to provide the benefits."

AARP New Jersey, the New Jersey AFL-CIO, New Jersey Policy Perspective and the New Jersey Partnership for Working Families are among those that have backed legislation to provide family leave. The New Jersey Business and Industry Association and other state business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, have opposed it.

[KatyaR]

3. So it sounds as if it's statewide.

Duh--I just got it--this is PAID leave, FMLA is unpaid leave after your vacation/sick leave runs out.

Sorry--I'm am totally brain dead tonight.

[Omaha Steve]

4. I'd rather have a brain dead post than no post

I'm on pain killers. I'm not sure about anything I'll be saying until after my recovery is over. But most of my DU friends wonder about most of what I say anyway.

[KatyaR]

5. My friends would say I need an excuse like that.

:evilgrin:

I hope you're feeling better.