Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is co-leading bipartisan legislation that would expand Americans' access to paid family and medical leave. The New York Democrat, along with Arkansas Republican John Boozman, have introduced the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act, which would establish a competitive grant program for states that provide a minimum of six weeks of parental, caregiving, or medical leave. It would also create an interstate working group to coordinate and harmonize paid leave benefits across participating states.
Specifically, the bill would:
- Establish a competitive three-year pilot grant program, administered by the Department of Labor, to states who enact a paid leave program meeting the following requirements: 1) provides a minimum of six weeks of leave for any qualifying reason (parental, medical, or caregiving); 2) is delivered by the state in partnership with a "private entity" such as an insurance company or benefits administrator; 3) provides, depending on earnings, a minimum 50–67% wage replacement, with benefits capped at 150% of the state's average weekly wage
- Establish the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network (I-PLAN) to coordinate and harmonize paid leave benefits across participating states. This would benefit employers, states, and employees by facilitating streamlined benefit delivery and reducing administrative burdens. 1) States would receive a conforming grant between $1.5 and $8 million annually to participate in "good faith" in the I-PLAN. 2) States would also separately be eligible for implementation grants of between $1.5 and $8 million annually to help with costs associated with aligning their state paid leave program with the I-PLAN requirements, including administrative costs, technology, staffing and training, and outreach.
- Instruct the Department of Labor to prioritize pilot program grants for states that do not currently have an established paid leave program, emphasize paid family leave, participate in I-PLAN, and have a lower percentage of the working population with access to paid leave benefits.
Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Oklahoma Republican Stephanie Bice and Pennsylvania Democrat Chrissy Houlahan.
