Des Moines — As a part of an ongoing commitment to create a better deal for Iowans, Senate Democrats on Thursday introduced legislation to provide real paid family leave for all working Iowans, truly putting Iowa’s families first.
The Iowa Family and Medical Leave Act, numbered SF109, is an extension of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and establishes a family and medical leave insurance program to provide paid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons.
Sen. Matt Blake (D-Urbandale), the bill’s lead sponsor, says the legislation is about providing economic security to Iowa workers.
“Unexpected emergencies can happen to anyone,” Sen. Blake said. “This bill puts Iowa families first by allowing workers to care for their loved ones without the extra worry of lost pay during their time away from work, easing their financial burdens.”
All 15 members of the Iowa Senate Democratic caucus have signed on as co-sponsors for SF109.
The United States is the only industrialized nation without paid family leave. Here at home, 79% of Iowa workers are without access to paid family leave through their employers. That’s about 1,371,000 working Iowans who could be forced to make impossible choices between caring for their loved ones and providing financial stability for their families.
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