New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, has proposed a plan to expand paid parental leave, allowing workers time off to attend prenatal appointments. This announcement was made as part of the budget plan launched at the commencement of the state Legislature’s session this week. If approved, New Yorkers would be entitled to 40 hours of paid leave for prenatal care, making New York the first state in the country to provide such benefits.

Hochul stated that medical care during the early months of pregnancy can make a significant difference. The proposal comes against the backdrop of increasing disparities in infant and maternal mortality among people of color and those in the low-income bracket, with black women being particularly affected.

Currently, benefits are unavailable until a month prior to childbirth after a seven-day waiting period. By treating prenatal care as a separate qualifying event, pregnant people would have better access to necessary medical care. The proposal also includes waiving co-pays and other out-of-pocket expenses related to pregnancy for New Yorkers on certain health plans.

Further proposals encompass state funding for free portable cribs for economically disadvantaged residents, with a view to reducing infant deaths due to unsafe sleeping conditions. Moreover, Hochul is advocating for the reduction of unnecessary cesarean sections, which are often conducted more frequently than recommended.

The proposal will be presented during Hochul’s State of the State address the following week. Both houses of New York’s Legislature, controlled by the Democrats, started their sessions last Wednesday. The offices of State Assembly Speaker, Carl Heastie, and Majority Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, are set to review the Governor’s proposal.