Includes certain persons engaged in a professional or teaching capacity in or for a religious, charitable or educational institution as employees for purposes…

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic11

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Christopher Ryan says this is needed

Under New York State law, family leave provides up to 12 weeks of paid time off at 67 percent of a worker's average weekly wage, capped at 67 percent of the statewide average weekly wage. In addition, the law provides that a worker is entitled to continued health insurance on the same terms during their absence and, upon returning from family leave, is entitled to return to the same job. An employer is prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against a worker for availing themselves of the protections of this section of the law. However, New York State law specifically excludes teachers and other professionals, employed at non-profit religious, charitable and educa- tional institutions from these protections. Educators in New York's public sector have bargained for and won paid parental leave, but it falls on the legislature to ensure that teachers in private, non-profit institutions benefit from these policies as well. According to the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, paid family leave is associated with lower rates of postpartum depression and improved infant health, including lower rates of preterm birth and infant mortality, as well as improved developmental outcomes for the child. In economic terms, the National Council on Teacher Quality notes that paid leave has led to increased productivity, reduced turnover and extended tenure with the same employer. Considering the benefit to public health and the economy, extending paid family leave to these workers is a commonsense proposition.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.