What's happening
This bill requires public employers in New York who opt out of paid family leave to instead provide up to twelve weeks of paid parental leave at 67% of the employee’s average weekly wage.
Why it matters
Ensures paid parental leave for public employees. even if their public employer opts out of the state’s standard paid family leave program, closing a gap that previously left some workers without this benefit.
Standardizes the level of pay. requiring employers to provide 67% of an employee’s average weekly wage (up to a state-set cap)—so public sector workers have a predictable and meaningful income replacement during parental leave.
Aligns public sector benefits more closely with private sector norms. , which may help attract and retain talent in government jobs by guaranteeing at least a minimum level of paid parental leave.
Limits employer flexibility to deny paid leave altogether. by mandating an alternative benefit, ensuring public employees are not disadvantaged compared to those whose employers remain in the state program.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Guarantee Parental Leave for Workers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to labor
- Referred to labor
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Guarantee Parental Leave for Employees
In Senate Committee · Labor · Sponsor Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
299
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. RAJKUMAR, CUNNINGHAM -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to requiring public employers who opt out of providing paid family leave benefits to provide parental leave in the alternative
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 212-b of the workers' compensation law is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if a public employer chooses to opt out of paid family leave benefits pursuant to paragraph b of this subdivision, then such public employer shall be required to offer parental leave to its employees for a period not to exceed twelve weeks during any fifty-two week calendar period. Employers shall pay employees on parental leave a rate of sixty-seven percent of the employee's average weekly wage but shall not exceed sixty-seven percent of the New York state average weekly wage in effect.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01432-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.