Sweeney Renews Efforts To Enact Paid Family Leave

TRENTON � Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, released the following statement today regarding his testimony before the Assembly Labor Committee about legislation he sponsored with Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, to provide paid family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members and newborn or newly adopted children.

�This paid family leave bill is a fairness bill; it does the right thing for working men and women. The legislation is 12 years in the making, and I applaud its sponsors as well as the Assembly leadership and Senate President Codey for moving it, and working to make a big difference in the lives of working families.�

TRENTON – Landmark legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Senator Barbara Buono, which will make New Jersey the second state in the nation (after California) to provide paid family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members or newborn or newly adopted children was signed into law today, at a ceremony at the State House.

“The signing of this bill ushers in a new day for New Jersey’s workforce, in that it gives hard-working parents and caregivers the time they need to take care of the family members who rely on them the most,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “By now, you all know of my strong conviction for this legislation, because I was in a similar situation when my 14 year-old daughter, Lauren was born. My employer was understanding, and allowed me to take the time I needed. Had my employment situation been different, I could have had a difficult time balancing spending the 75 days at the hospital with my newborn daughter, or going to work to provide for my wife and young son. This new law is aimed at helping workers whose employers won’t allow them to take this necessary leave time.”

TRENTON – Senator Barbara. Buono, the Chair of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, today made the following comments in conjunction with the panel’s consideration of S-786, the bill she is co-prime sponsoring to provide for paid family leave in New Jersey. The bill was approved 8-6 and now goes to the full Senate.

“Every so often we get a chance here to make decisions which will make a real difference in the lives of our residents. Today is one of those days.

TRENTON – Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, D-Hudson, and a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, released the following statement today regarding legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Senator Barbara Buono, to provide up to six weeks of paid family leave time for employees:

“My vote today in support of extending paid family leave benefits to employees of all businesses, regardless of size, was a vote of good conscience. In my district, there are a substantial number of small businesses, whose employees are primarily single women, who serve as the head of their households.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Senator Barbara Buono, which would provide paid family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members and newborn or newly adopted children was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations panel by a vote of 8-6.

“When my daughter Lauren was born, she remained in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit for 75 days, and she required constant care, which meant that either my wife or I were there with her round the clock,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “I’m thankful that I had such an understanding employer, but I can see how it would be hard on an employee who doesn’t. This legislation is about giving families time to bond – it’s about giving them time to care for their loved ones. Passing this legislation is vital to helping hard working New Jerseyans balance taking care of their families and holding onto jobs that enable them to do so.”

TRENTON – Senator Loretta Weinberg today declared a hard-fought victory for New Jersey workers and their families with the enactment of the new Paid Family Leave law.

“This is a good day for workers and their families because we’ve injected some heart into the world of business,” said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. “This new law will help families deal with what’s really important in life – being there for loved ones in times of need.”

TRENTON – The full Senate will convene on Monday at 2 PM to consider a package of bills including a measure by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, and Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, which would provide paid family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members and newborn or newly adopted children.

“This bill is 12 years in the making, and I am encouraged that this vote will bring New Jersey that much closer to providing workers with the leave time they need, and want to take care of their family members,” said Senate Majority Leader Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem.

TRENTON – Senator Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, today testified before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee in favor of legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Budget and Appropriations panel Chair Senator Barbara Buono, which would appropriate up to six weeks of paid family leave time for employees.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Senator Barbara Buono which would provide paid family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members and newborn or newly adopted children received final legislative approval today from the full Senate by a vote of 21 to 15.

“I know this type of leave time is necessary, because I’ve been there myself,” said Majority Leader Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, in reference to the birth of his 14 year-old daughter, Lauren, who remained in intensive care for 75 days after she was born. “In my case, I had an understanding employer, but I can’t say the same for all of New Jersey’s workers. This bill would signify a new day for the State’s workforce, in that, the needs of families will be put before the needs of business owners. Parenting is the most important job that many of us will ever undertake, and this legislation would allow New Jersey to remain in the forefront of providing necessary benefits to its hard-working residents.”

TRENTON – Senator Dana Redd, D-Camden, today voted in favor of a paid family leave bill (S-786) as it was approved by the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, saying her support “reflects my total commitment to the working community across this State.”

The bill, sponsored by Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and Barbara Buono, now goes before the full Senate for consideration. It was approved 8-6 by the committee.

“This bill is reflective of my total commitment to the working community across this State, as well as to the business community of New Jersey,” said Senator Redd, a member of the Senate budget panel.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney and Senator Barbara Buono which would provide paid family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members and newborn or newly adopted children was approved today by the full Senate by a vote of 22 to 16.

“I’m sponsoring this legislation as a father, who understands the urgency of this type of leave time for working families, because I was in a similar situation 14 years ago when my daughter Lauren was born four months premature,” said Senate Majority Leader Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “Lauren remained in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit for 75 days, and either my wife or I was there with her round the clock. My boss understood and allowed me to take off the time I needed, but I can’t imagine having to choose between spending time with my daughter who was clinging to life, and going to work to be able to put food on the table for my wife and then four year-old son.”

“Far too many individuals have had to make the tough decision between caring for a loved one and being able to maintain their income. Far too many new mothers and fathers have had to rush back to work after the birth of their child,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex. “These are choices that should never have to be made in the United States and soon they will no longer be choices forced upon New Jersey families.”

TRENTON – Senator Dana L. Redd, D-Camden and Gloucester, has released the following statement regarding the Senate’s recent passage of S-786, which would provide paid family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members and newborn or newly adopted children. The final vote was 22-16, and Senator Redd voted in favor of the bill.

“This bill is good for families. There are few things in life that you can never do in excess, and spending time with an ill family member is one of them. This legislation would give a husband a few more weeks to spend with his wife who is dying of cancer. It would allow new parents a few more weeks of uninterrupted bonding time with their newly adopted child.

TRENTON – The full Senate will convene on Monday, April 7 at 12:30 PM, to vote on final legislative approval of S-786, legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, and Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, which would provide paid family leave benefits for workers caring for sick family members and newborn or newly adopted children.

Monday’s vote will mark the second time the Senate considers this legislation. In March, the Senate approved the measure by a vote of 22 to 16. The Assembly amended the bill at the request of the State Attorney General, to protect small business owners. The Assembly amendments also increase penalties for Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and paid family leave fraud.