New Parent Leave Act passes state Assembly!

Legal Aid at Work client Alfonso

We’re thrilled to announce that SB 63 from Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), which we co-sponsored along with First 5 California and California Employment Lawyers Association, passed the Assembly today with bipartisan support.

This bill will allow up to 2.7 million more California workers to take time to bond with their new children without fear of losing their jobs. It now heads to the Senate for concurrence and then to Governor Brown’s desk.  Please urge your Senator to vote aye, and Governor Brown to sign SB 63, so millions more California parents can be there when it matters most.

Some background: The California Family Rights Act guarantees workers at businesses with more than 50 employees the right to take up to 12 weeks off work to bond with a new child. But 40 percent of Californians work for employers with fewer than 50 employees — like our client Alfonso (above).

Alfonso, whose daughter experienced complications at birth and required extra medical care, was forced to forgo leave and pay family and friends to take his daughter to daily appointments in order to keep his job with a local towing company. Like other parents who turn to Legal Aid at Work for help, Alfonso could not believe his employer could fire him for taking time to care for his daughter who needed him.

SB 63 has the support of a broad array of health, business, workers’, and children’s organizations and is championed by the California Work & Family Coalition and Stronger California Advocates Network. Please help us ensure moms and dads like Alfonso can be there for their babies.

Please click here for more information about our Work and Family Program and to link to its services.

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