California was the first state in the nation to offer paid family leave in 2002. A measure that would expand the program will get its first hearing in the state Assembly next month.
A recent report from the State Senate Office of Research revealed 1.7 Californians have taken advantage of the law since its inception. But the report also found a declining percentage of lower income workers have been taking family leave the past nine years.
Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) said his bill attempts to reverse that trend. The program currently pays just 55 percent of normal wages, which Gomez said just doesn't cut it for low wage workers.
“If they’re living paycheck to paycheck when they’re getting 100 percent of their salary, 55 percent is something that they can’t ever use," Gomez said.
Under Assembly Bill 908, people who make under $20,000 a year would get 80 percent of their pay while on family leave, those paid $20,000 to $60,000 would receive 75 percent of their salary, and people making more than $60,000 would get 65 percent.
The measure would also expand the program from six weeks to 10 weeks.
California’s program is funded through employee-paid payroll taxes.
Only two other states, New Jersey and Rhode Island, offer paid family leave.
