Committee Supports Paid Family & Medical Leave Legislation

PHOTO: Sen. Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) and Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston) speak in favor of paid family leave on March 25.

Last Thursday, the Legislature’s Labor and Housing Committee voted 8-5 in favor a bill from Sen. Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) and Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston), that would create a statewide paid family and medical leave program.

“It’s an incredible feeling to see years of hard work pay off. We are now closer than we have ever been to passing a paid family and medical leave program created by Mainers, for Mainers. This is a great example of what we can do when we build things together,” said Sen. Daughtry in a statement. “I’m grateful to the Labor and Housing Committee for listening intently, and for their careful consideration of this bill. I’m looking forward to finally seeing this bill cross the finish line.”

As amended by committee, employees and employers would split a wage contribution, equal to 1 percent or less of the employee’s wage. Employers with 15 or fewer workers would not have to pay the contribution, but their employees would still be eligible. Employers who offer comparable or more comprehensive paid leave plans may opt out. Once an employee hits a certain contribution benchmark, they would be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave each year for qualifying life events. If the worker has been with their employer for at least 120 days, their job would be protected until they returned from leave.

Employees would be able to take time off for:

• The birth, adoption, or fostering of a child;
• Supporting a sick or dying loved one;
• Caring for an older family member;
• Recovery from surgery, an accident, substance use disorder, or other health challenges;
• Prepping for/transitioning back from a family member’s military deployment; and
• Managing immediate safety needs if you or a family member are a victim of domestic or sexual violence.

The worker’s wages would be replaced at a tiered rate, based on their average weekly income. Under the committee amendment, the benefit amount would be equal to 90 percent of a worker’s wages for income earned up to half of Maine’s average weekly wage, which is currently $1,036. That means the first $518 of a worker’s average weekly income would be replaced at 90%, which is $466.20. For income earned above that amount, the wage replacement would be 66 percent of earned pay. The total benefit cannot exceed the state average weekly wage.

Only 15 percent of American workers have access to any sort of paid leave, and fewer than 60 percent of the workforce has access to unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. Nationally, one in four women takes fewer than 11 days of parental leave after giving birth despite a recommended six- to eight-week recovery period. Eleven other states and the District of Columbia have instituted a statewide paid family and medical leave program, including every other state in New England.

The measure faces further votes in the Maine House and Senate.