JEFFERSON CITY – Senator Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, today filed legislation that would create the Missouri Earned Family Medical Leave Program. Representative Tracy McCreery, D-St. Louis, filed identical legislation in the House of Representatives.
“The purpose of this paid leave program is simple: it helps give hardworking Missourians the resources to put their families first,” Schupp said. “By introducing this bill, we’re starting an important conversation. We’re taking a closer look at how best to strengthen our working families and prioritize the health and wellbeing of Missourians.”
“Nearly all employees need to take time away from work at some point to deal with a serious personal or family illness or to care for a new child,” McCreery said. “Providing earned paid family and medical leave allow workers to meet these needs without jeopardizing their economic security.”
The Missouri Earned Family Medical Leave Program would provide employees with access to up to 30 days earned paid leave. Employees would be eligible to take leave to care for a family member, after the birth of a child or the placement of a foster or adopted child or for taking care of the employee’s own medical conditions.
The program would follow a social insurance model funded through employee contributions of .25 percent. The program would also give employers the option to cover all or a portion of the contributions. Contributions to the program would begin Jan. 1, 2017. Employees would be able to receive benefits beginning Jan. 1, 2018.
For more information on Sen. Schupp’s legislation, visit her official Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/schupp.
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