[CA] State to extend Paid Family Leave
Source: UT San Diego
Come July, California workers will be able to draw on their disability insurance benefits if they need to take time off to care for a seriously ill grandparent, grandchild, sibling or in-law.
On Tuesday Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill to extend Californias Paid Family Leave program to relatives beyond parent, spouse, child, registered domestic partner and same-sex spouse. The move means that Paid Family Leave, a first-of-its-kind program established in 2004, will allow employees to take off up to six weeks with partial pay from the state to care for family members who fall into those categories.
Paid Family Leave guarantees up to 55 percent of a workers average weekly salary for up to six weeks within a 12-month period. Employees pay for it through a 1 percent deduction in their paychecks for the first $95,585 they earn in a year. Weekly payments range from $50 to $1,067. Individuals must have earned $300 in the preceding 12 months to be eligible.
Brown signed the bill without comment. The legislation, Senate Bill 770, passed largely along party lines, with Democrats all voting yes, and all Republicans except for Anthony Canella of Ceres voting no. The bill had no official opposition. The California Chamber of Commerce had no opinion on the bill.
Read more: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/sep/24/paid-family-leave-extended-inlaws-grandchildren/