A bill that would expand California’s family and medical leave law passed the Assembly on a party line vote.
Current law allows an employee unpaid leave to care for parents, children and spouses with a serious health condition.
This measure would expand that to include domestic partners, independent adult children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren or parents in-law.
Democratic Assemblyman Sandré Swanson says eight other states use a more expansive definition of family member. “When the life of a worker’s family member is in jeopardy and there is no one else to care for that seriously ill person, the worker should have the right to sacrifice their pay in order to care for a relative without losing his or her job.”
Republicans called the bill well-intentioned but a burdensome mandate for businesses. They say small businesses can’t afford the requirement.
The California Chamber of Commerce has put the measure on its job-killer list.
The bill now moves to the Senate.
