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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Senate District 35. March 31, 2015:

The Senate Democratic Conference brought legislation to the Senate  floor that would have implemented paid family leave for families throughout New York State. This initiative measure was voted down by the Senate Republican Majority.

“Providing paid family leave is the right thing to do for New York’s hard working families and our state’s economy,” Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “This common sense legislation would have provided paid leave for New Yorkers during medical emergencies, the  birth or adoption of a child or to care for a sick loved one. I am deeply disappointed that the Senate  Republicans once again chose to put special interests ahead of serving struggling New York families.”

The legislation advanced by the Senate Democratic Conference and voted down by the Senate Republican Majority would have created a system to would provide all New Yorkers with twelve weeks of paid benefits, at no cost to the employer. Through using the pre-existing workers’ compensation system, this legislation could fund these benefits with employee contributions of only 45 cents a week, totaling $23.40 a year. This system would have provided benefits of $600 a week to employees for 12 weeks to care for a relative or a new child so these New Yorkers would not have to choose between leaving the workforce and spending time withloved ones in need.