Kentucky House, Led by Republicans, Propels Bill for More Accessible Paid Family Leave
Kentucky Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron has launched his campaign against Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear. The state house has approved a bill to expand access to paid family leave in Kentucky. The voluntary, market-driven plan was passed with overwhelming support from both parties and is now headed to the Senate. House Bill 179 would give Kentucky employers the option to provide voluntary paid family leave insurance as a benefit for their employees. The goal is to make the benefit more accessible to workers while not imposing any new obligations on employers. If the bill is enacted, workers could receive temporary wage replacement if they need to take time off to care for a sick relative, bond with a newborn child, or tend to a first responder or military relative injured in line-of-duty. The length of paid leave benefits would depend on what the employer decides. Supporters view the bill as a step towards attracting and retaining workers and as a means of promoting gender equality in the workforce. Employers who already offer paid family leave through self-insurance models could lower their costs through the voluntary insurance product.