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Bi-partisan group reintroducing Family Care Act legislation
Stacy Wescoe//February 3, 2025//
A group of bipartisan legislators and community leaders say they have reintroduced the Family Care Act: Putting Pennsylvania Families and Small Businesses First.
This bill, previously known as HB181 in the PA House and SB580 in the PA Senate, proposes a statewide paid family and medical leave program.
Both HB181 and SB580 passed through committee in each of their respective chamber’s last session, but both stalled when neither was brought to the House or Senate floor for a full vote.
“Only 29% of Pennsylvanians have private employers that offer some form of paid leave, leaving over 3.5 million Pennsylvanians with no guaranteed safety net,” Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Allegheny, said.
The legislation aims at ensuring economic stability and job protection for those facing family and/or personal emergencies.
Advocates said employers will benefit from the Family Care Act, too. In states with similar programs, small businesses reported higher employee retention, improved productivity and a stronger bottom line.
“It is essential that we acknowledge the challenges faced by millions of hardworking families in Pennsylvania, including restaurant workers, who are deprived of healing and rest. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of our economy. They are the heart of our communities. They should not have to choose between earning a living and living well,” said Sam Jones, deputy director of Strategic Partnerships at Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United. “It’s time to recognize that paid family and medical leave is a basic human right.”
Fourteen other U.S. states have passed some form of paid leave – and six of them are Pennsylvania’s neighbors. By passing this bill, Pennsylvania businesses will no longer face a competitive disadvantage while neighboring states such as New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland have already implemented paid leave programs.
