New Jersey Senate Approves Paid Family Leave Measure; Gov. Corzine Says He Will Sign It Into Law

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 10 Apr 2008 - 6:00 PDT

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The New Jersey Senate on Monday voted 21-15 to pass a bill (S 786) that would provide workers with partial wage replacement for six weeks while the worker is on leave to care for a newborn, newly adopted child or a sick family member, the Bergen Record reports. The state Assembly passed its version last month, and the bill now goes to Gov. Jon Corzine (D), who said he will sign it into law (Young, Bergen Record, 4/8). If Corzine signs the bill, New Jersey would be the third state to create a paid family and medical leave program; California and Washington already have such laws.

The legislation would allow workers to collect two-thirds of their pay, up to a maximum of $524 weekly, while on leave, the AP/Google.com reports. The program would be funded through an employee-only payroll deduction of $33 annually (Hester, AP/Google.com, 4/7). Under existing law, companies employing at least 50 people would have to hold a job open for the employee on leave. Companies with fewer than 50 employees would have the option of filling the open position. The paid leave program does not change these rules. The Office of Legislative Services has estimated that 38,000 of the state's four million workers will take family leave in the bill's first full year. Supporters of the bill said it is a "compassionate answer" to the state's shifting demographic -- with more people taking care of their parents, adopting children and tending to newborns with special needs -- the Record reports. Opponents argue that the state's declining economy cannot accommodate the bill's provisions. They add that the measure would force some businesses to find skilled temporary replacements or would overwork employees who must cover the duties of those on leave.

Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R), said, "Revenue's down, unemployment's up ... Some would say we're already in a recession." He added, "What do we do? While our economy's hemorrhaging, this Legislature is prescribing a blood thinner." Sen. Nia Gill (D), an opponent of the measure, said that the bill would "strip the rights" of people who work for small employers and that it would open small businesses to termination lawsuits. She added, "By creating this, what you have done is to create litigation for small-business owners" (AP/Google.com 4/7). However, the bill specifically protects small employers from lawsuits from people who take paid leave and lose their jobs (Livio, Newark Star-Ledger, 4/7).

Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D), the bill's sponsor, said, "This bill would signify a new day for the state's workforce, in that the needs of the families will be put before the needs of the business owners" (Bergen Record, 4/8). Corzine said, "People are served well by having their families near them and supportive of them in times of great stress" (AP/Google.com 4/7).

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