California Governor Gavin Newsom is contemplating whether to sign a bill that would permit workers to file paperwork for the state’s paid family leave program prior to taking leave. Current rules prevent workers from applying for paid family leave or short-term disability benefits until the first unpaid leave day. This results in workers potentially going for weeks without payment from the state as they wait for claims approval and processing.

The proposed legislation would allow applicants to submit their paperwork 30 days prior to the anticipated leave and mandates benefit provision within 14 days, or as soon as leave begins. The state’s paid family leave program issues 60% to 70% of a worker’s income during leave for child care or care for a sick family member.

Lower income workers in California are documented to take leave at a lower rate than high wage workers. The law, if signed, would allow workers with less financial security to ensure they will be compensated during their time away from work. Eight out of the 14 states currently providing paid family leave benefits, including Colorado and Oregon, allows workers to apply in advance of their leave.

The lawmakers in California unanimously passed the bill, with a voting tally of 77-0 in the State Assembly and 44-0 in the State Senate. Gov. Newsom has until September 30 to either sign or veto the bill. Newsom’s office has an online form that enables you to leave a comment about the proposed bill.

To lean more about the proposed changes and what that can mean for you, or to get assistance with filing your claim, should the legislation pass, you can contact EDD customer service. For more detailed information, you can visit Eddcaller.com, a helpful resource for California workers to navigate the ins and outs of unemployment benefits, paid family leave, and disability benefits.