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Paid Family & Medical Leave Act

Op-Ed: Paid family and medical leave is an investment in New Mexico’s future

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Tracy McDaniel
Southwest Women’s Law Center
Las Cruces Sun News

In the last few years, Southwest Women’s Law Center has led a coalition advocating for the passage of Paid Family and Medical Leave Act in the New Mexico state legislature. PFMLA would create a state-administered trust fund that ensures that no one has to choose between their job and caring for a new child, a family member with a serious health concern, or their own serious medical condition.

Last year, the Doña Ana County Early Childhood Education Coalition, a part of the prenatal to career education initiative called the SUCCESS Partnership, joined a growing number of organizations, individuals, and small business owners asking the state to make this critical investment in working families. Bringing Paid Family & Medical Leave to New Mexico is a goal of the Children Born into Healthy Homes Action Network, and the reasons are clear.

In states with PFML programs, families who take paid leave to welcome a new child have better outcomes. PFML programs have been found to decrease child abuse injuries and infant mortality, increase vaccination and breastfeeding rates, and improve the physical and mental health of parents during the first two years of life.

…

Read Full Article on LC Sun News

Why the governor and legislature should support the Paid Family & Medical Leave Act

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To the editor:
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus the ways in which U.S. workers struggle to balance work, health, and family obligations. This is particularly true for women, especially women of color, who have left the workforce at shocking rates in the last year, including 275,000 American women in January 2021 alone. We can and must find ways to help New Mexicans create balance between work obligations and caring for their health and their family.


If passed and signed into law, the Paid Family & Medical Leave Act (HB38) would create a state-administered trust fund that ensures that no one has to choose between their job and caring for a new child, a family member with a serious health concern, or their own medical condition. After an initial investment of $30 million dollars for start-up costs, which will be repaid to the state within the first five years of the program, employee and employer contributions will fund compensation payments and administration of the fund.


How will this work? After contributing to the fund for at least six months and submitting an application to the Department of Workforce Solutions, workers will receive a percentage of their average weekly wages for up to 12 weeks of leave. Self-employed individuals can opt into the program. Employees and self-employed individuals will receive leave compensation payments directly from the Trust Fund. During an employee’s leave period, employers will benefit from wage savings, which may be used to pay overtime wages for current employees, hire a temporary replacement, or to invest in other ways.


The costs for each worker are modest with a full-time minimum wage worker ($21,840 annual salary) paying only $109.20 annually and their employer paying $87.36 annually. For the average wage in New Mexico ($47,040 annual salary), the worker will pay $235.20 annually and the employer will pay $188.16 annually.


Both employers and workers will benefit from PFML programs. Employers who offer PRML have a competitive advantage in hiring and retention. PFML programs are effective in improving workers performance and engagement. Workers who take paid leave are more likely to be employed by the same business two years later, less likely to take sick leave when they return to work, and more likely to report high morale and workplace satisfaction. Like the public sector in New Mexico, large corporations understand this competitive edge. These corporations are increasingly likely to offer private paid leave programs to attract and retain high-quality workers. However, few of our homegrown New Mexico businesses are large enough to easily absorb the costs of offering this benefit.


New Mexico is proud to offer entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses an opportunity to innovate, experiment, and grow right here in the Land of Enchantment. Because of the economic downturn, HB38 proposes a delayed implementation timeline with more than two years to begin rolling out the program. The delayed implementation timeline recognizes both the economic realities facing New Mexico and the urgency of the moment.


Terrelene Massey, Executive Director
Southwest Women’s Law Center
Albuquerque

Download Editorial via Gallup Independent:

OP-ED-Gallup-independentDownload

My View Tracy McDaniel: Paid Family and Medical Leave Can’t Wait

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By Tracy McDaniel
Feb 28, 2021

COVID-19 made clear that U.S. workers struggle to balance work, health, and family obligations. This is particularly true for women, especially women of color, who have left the workforce at alarming rates in the last year, including 275,000 American women in January alone. This exodus of women from the workplace is due in large part to the conflict between work and caregiving. We can and must find ways to help New Mexicans balance work obligations and caring for their health and their families.

The U.S. has struggled to cope with the economic realities of the pandemic in ways that other countries have not. One significant reason for this difference is the lack of support for workers who are suddenly unable to participate in the workforce due to health-related or caregiving concerns.

Among wealthy nations, the U.S. stands alone in its failure to ensure paid sick leave and paid family leave to workers.

As one of their first acts in response to COVID-19 in March, members of the U.S. Congress enacted temporary paid sick and paid family leave. While leaders in other countries were working to address the myriad issues related to the economic and public health crises, Congress was caught debating paid leave measures that have been guaranteed to workers elsewhere around the world for years. The provisions they passed were temporary, limited and have since expired.

Guaranteed paid leave has been replaced with a temporary tax credit for employers who choose to provide leave. Because of the limited reach and voluntary nature of these provisions, many New Mexicans have been unable to access this support.

While limited in their reach among New Mexicans, this series of rushed temporary measures at the federal level have demonstrated that paid leave policies are necessary to an economy’s ability to respond, adapt and bounce back from major financial and public health disruption. Based on an Urban Institute analysis, states with existing paid family and medical leave programs were better able to respond to pandemic-related claims than those relying solely on unemployment insurance systems.

If New Mexico had a such a program in place before the pandemic, our economy and our communities would have suffered less from coronavirus-related hardships. We now have the opportunity to create systems that support future economic resilience for New Mexico.

The state Legislature currently is considering House Bill 38, which would create the Paid Family and Medical Leave Trust Fund administered through the Department of Workforce Solutions. After six months of contributions, individuals would be able to receive leave compensation from the trust fund to take up to 12 weeks away from work to welcome a new child, manage a serious health condition or care for a family member with a serious health condition.

Because of the economic downturn, HB 38 proposes a delayed implementation timeline with more than two years to begin rolling out the program. The delay recognizes both the economic realities facing New Mexico and the urgency of the moment.

In the face of an unprecedented crisis last spring, precious time was wasted at all levels of government, scrambling to deal with a problem that other countries have already solved. We must support workers and ensure economic stability. A paid family and medical leave policy is imperative to our economic security at the individual, community, state and national level. For New Mexico to be ready for the next emergency and to protect everyday workers experiencing caregiving needs and health conditions, we must act now to enact paid family and medical leave.

Tracy McDaniel is a policy advocate with Southwest Women’s Law Center. She has been working to improve
outcomes for young children and families in New Mexico since 2009.

Read on Santa Fe Reporter

Action Alert: Urge our Leaders to Invest in Working Families!

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¡Viva Nuevo México!

House Bill (HB) 38 – Paid Family & Medical Leave Act – passed the House Judiciary Committee (8-2) on Saturday. Thanks to all the champions who called, emailed, and provided public comment to the Committee members!

Your hard work on behalf of New Mexican families is paying off, and we can’t slow down now. There is still a long way to go and not much time to get there. Let’s raise our voices for hardworking New Mexicans! Here are two ways you can help today:

Urge Governor Lujan Grisham to stand in support of HB 38. Please call the Governor’s office today and urge her support for the state’s investment in a Paid Family & Medical Leave program. Governor Lujan Grisham makes the final decision about whether to sign the bill. She needs to hear what having a Paid Family & Medical Leave program would really mean for working families.

Where to call:
Governor’s Office: (505) 476-2200

What you might say:
“I am calling to urge the Governor to stand in support HB38. I believe that working families shouldn’t be forced to choose between paying their bills and caring for their health and their families. An investment in Paid Family & Medical Leave is an investment in New Mexico’s future.”

Urge House Appropriations & Finance Committee to vote “Do Pass” on HB38.

During the House Judiciary Committee, HB 38 got another committee assignment.  Our next stop is House Appropriations and Finance Committee, and we need to ask them to invest in working families by supporting HB 38. Time is of the essence.  We will provide an update when this is scheduled.

  1. Email/call members of the Committee to express your support for HB 38 and ask them to schedule and vote yes on HB38.
  2. Share this message widely. Mobilize your networks to email Committee members and ask them to vote yes on HB38.
  3. Prepare a public comment to share during the hearing.  We’ve seen the power of public comments. A 60 second story can persuade legislators and change votes. Reach out to us if you need support in preparing your remarks.

EN ESPAÑOL

Alerta para la Acción: ¡Alentemos a nuestros líderes a invertir en las familias


La iniciativa de ley (HB) 38 de la Cámara de representantes– Ley de Ausencia Pagada por Motivos Familiares y Médicos – fue aprobada en el Comité judicial de la Cámara de representantes con 8 votos a favor y 2 en contra el sábado pasado. ¡Gracias a todos quienes nos han apoyado haciendo llamadas, enviando correos y proporcionando comentarios públicos a los miembros del Comité!

Su arduo trabajo en favor de las familias Nuevo Mexicanas está rindiendo frutos, y no es el momento para detenernos. Aún hay un largo camino por recorrer y queda muy poco tiempo para alcanzar nuestra meta. ¡Alcemos nuestras voces por las familias trabajadoras de Nuevo México! Hay dos maneras en las que usted puede ayudar el día de hoy:

Aliente a la Gobernadora Lujan Grisham a que apoye la iniciativa de ley HB 38. Por favor llame a la oficina de la Gobernadora hoy y pídale que invierta en el futuro del estado apoyando el programa de Ausencia Pagada por Motivos Familiares y Médicos. La Gobernadora Lujan Grisham tiene la última decisión de firmar o no esta iniciativa. Debemos lograr que ella entienda lo que verdaderamente significa para las familias trabajadoras un programa de Ausencia Pagada por Motivos Familiares y Médicos.

A dónde debo llamar:
Oficina de la Gobernadora: (505) 476-2200

Qué puedo decir:
“I am calling to urge the Governor to stand in support HB38. I believe that working families shouldn’t be forced to choose between paying their bills and caring for their health and their families. An investment in Paid Family & Medical Leave is an investment in New Mexico’s future.”
“Estoy llamando para pedirle a la Gobernadora que apoye la iniciativa de ley HB38.  Creo que las familias trabajadoras no deberían ser forzadas a elegir entre pagar sus cuentas y preocuparse por la salud de sus familias. Invertir en un programa de Ausencia Pagada por Motivos Familiares y Médicos es invertir en el futuro de Nuevo México.”


Pida a los miembros del Comité de Apropiaciones y Finanzas que voten a favor de la HB38.

En la audiencia del Comité judicial de la Cámara de representantes la iniciativa HB 38 fue asignada a otro comité.  Nuestra próxima parada es en el Comité de Apropiaciones y Finanzas de la Cámara de representantes, y debemos pedirles que inviertan en las familias trabajadoras de Nuevo México apoyando la iniciativa de ley HB 38.  El factor tiempo es vital.  Les informaremos en cuanto se programe la audiencia.

  1. Envíe correos electrónicos o llame a los miembros del Comité para expresar su apoyo a la iniciativa HB 38 y pídales programar esta iniciativa en la agenda del comité y votar a favor de ella.
  2. Comparta este mensaje con cuantas personas sea posible.  Movilice a sus redes de contactos para que envíen correos electrónicos a los miembros del Comité y les pidan votar a favor de la iniciativa HB 38.
  3. Prepare un comentario público para ser compartido durante la audiencia.  Hemos visto el poder que tienen los comentarios públicos.  Una historia de 60 segundos puede persuadir a los legisladores y hacer que cambien sus votos.  Comuníquese con nosotros si quiere que le ayudemos a preparar sus comentarios.

House Appropriations & Finance Committee members are:
Los miembros del Comité de Apropiaciones y Finanzas de la Cámara de representantes son:


Patricia A. Lundstrom (Chair)
Capitol: (505) 986-4316
Email: patricia.lundstrom@nmlegis.gov

Nathan P. Small (Vice Chair)
Capitol: (505) 986-4319
Email: nathan.small@nmlegis.gov

Anthony Allison
Capitol: (505) 986-4436
Email: anthony.allison@nmlegis.gov

Phelps Anderson
Capitol: (505) 986-4226
Email: phelps.anderson@nmlegis.gov

Gail Armstrong
Capitol: (505) 986-4227
Email: gail@gailfornewmexico.com

Cathrynn N. Brown
Capitol: (505) 986-4227
Email: c.brown.nm55@gamil.com

Ambrose Castellano
Capitol: (505) 986-4236
Email: ambrose.castellano@nmlegis.gov

Jack Chatfield
Capitol: (505) 986-4467
Email: jackchd67@gmail.com

Randal S. Crowder
Capitol: (505) 986-4215
Email: randal.crowder@nmlegis.com

Meredith A. Dixon
Capitol: (505) 986-4210
Email: meredith.dixon@nmlegis.gov

Candy Spence Ezzell
Capitol: (505) 986-4454
Email: csecows@aol.com

Harry Garcia
Capitol: (505) 986-4233
Email: hgarciad69@gmail.com

Susan K. Herrera
Capitol: (505) 986-4249
Email: susan.herrera@nmlegis.gov

Dayan Hochman – Vigil
Capitol: (505) 986-4432
Email: dayan.hochman-vigil@nmlegis.gov

T. Ryan Lane
Capitol: (505) 986-4226
Email: ryan@laneforliberty.com

Raymundo Lara
Capitol: (505) 986-4233
Email: raymundo.lara@nmlegis.gov

Debra M. Sarinana
Capitol: (505) 986-4438
Email: debbie.sarinana@nmlegis.gov

Candie G. Sweetser
Capitol: (505) 986-4255
Email: candie.sweetser@nmlegis.gov

Christine Trujillo
Capitol: (505) 235-8783
Email: christine.trujillo@nmlegis.gov

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Action Alert – HB38 is scheduled for February 20th in House Judiciary!

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HB38 – The Paid Family & Medical Leave Act –will be heard on February 20th at 1 p.m. In the meantime, we need you to: 
 
1.  Email/call members of the House Judiciary Committee to express your support for the bill and ask them to vote yes on HB38.
 
2.  Mobilize your networks to email Committee members and ask them to vote yes.
 
3.  Prepare a public comment to share during the hearing.  We’ve seen the power of public comments. A 60 second story can persuade legislators and change votes. Reach out to us if you need support in preparing your remarks.
 
****************
When: February 20, 2021 01:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Topic: House Judiciary Committee
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89543370073
Or iPhone one-tap : US: +16699009128,,89543370073#
or +12532158782,,89543370073#
 
Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 895 4337 0073
 
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Thank you for your dedication to ensuring equitable conditions and economic security for New Mexico women and families!

EN ESPAÑOL



Alerta para la acción – ¡HB38 será enviada al Comité judicial de la Cámara de representantes!

Ahora vamos al Comité judicial de la Cámara de representantes, en la que HB38 -Ley de ausencia pagada por motivos familiares y médicos- será presentada el 20 de febrero a la 1 p. m.  Mientras tanto, necesitamos su ayuda con lo siguiente:
 
1.  Envíe correos electrónicos/llame por teléfono a los miembros del Comité judicial de la Cámara de representantes para expresar su apoyo a esta iniciativa de ley y pedirles que voten a favor de la HB38.
 
2.  Movilizar sus redes de contactos para que envíen correos electrónicos a los miembros del Comité para pedirles que voten a favor de la iniciativa.
 
3.  Preparar un comentario de participación pública que sea compartido durante la audiencia.  Hemos visto el alcance que tienen los comentarios de participación pública. Una historia de 60 segundos puede persuadir a los legisladores y cambiar sus votos.
 
Estaremos en contacto para proporcionar más detalles acerca de los siguientes pasos una vez que se haya fijado la fecha de la audiencia.
 
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Cuándo: 20 de febrero de 2021, 1:00 P. M. Horario de la Montaña (EE. UU. y Canadá)
Asunto: Comité Judicial de la Cámara de Representantes
Haga clic en la liga abajo para enlazarse al webinario
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89543370073
O por iPhone one tap: EE. UU. +16699009128,,89543370073#
o +12532158782,,89543370073#
 
O por teléfono: Marque (para mejor calidad auditiva, marque el número que corresponda a su localidad): EE. UU +1 669 900 9128 o +1 253 215 8782 o +1 346 248 7799 o +1 646 558 8656 o +1 301 715 8592 o +1 312 626 6799
ID de Webinario: 895 4337 0073
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¡Muchas gracias por su dedicación para asegurar las condiciones de igualdad y seguridad económica para las mujeres y familias de Nuevo México!

House Judiciary Committee Members
Miembros del Comité judicial de la cámara de representantes

Gail Chasey (Chair)
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4411
Email: gail@gailchasey.com

Micaela Lara Cadena (Vice Chair)
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4210
Email: micaela.cadena@nmlegis.gov

Eliseo Lee Alcon
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4416
Email: eliseo.alcon@nmlegis.gov

Deborah A. Armstrong
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4344
Email: deborah.armstrong@nmlegis.gov

Zachary J. Cook
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4221
Email: zachary.cook@nmlegis.gov

Brian Egolf
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4782
Email: brian.egolf@nmlegis.gov

Daymon Ely
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4243
Email: daymon.ely@nmlegis.gov

Georgene Louis
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4329
Email: georgene.louis@nmlegis.gov

Matthew McQueen
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4423
Email: matthew.mcqueen@nmlegis.gov

Greg Nibert
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4211
Email: greg.nibert@nmlegis.gov

William “Bill” R. Rehm
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4214
Email: bill.rehm@nmlegis.gov

James G. Townsend
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4758
Email: townsend@pvtn.net

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Action Alert – HB38 is moving to House Judiciary!

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Thank you to everyone who reached out to members of House Commerce & Economic Development. HB38 passed the Committee 7-3.
 
Now, we’re on to House Judiciary, where HB38 – The Paid Family & Medical Leave Act – will be heard next week. We will update with the exact date as soon as possible. In the meantime, we need you to: 
 
1.  Email/call members of the House Judiciary Committee to express your support for the bill and ask them to vote yes on HB38.
 
2.  Mobilize your networks to email Committee members and ask them to vote yes.
 
3.  Prepare a public comment to share during the hearing.  We’ve seen the power of public comments. A 60 second story can persuade legislators and change votes. Reach out to us if you need support in preparing your remarks.
 
We will be in touch with more details for next steps once the hearing date is set.
 
Thank you for your dedication to ensuring equitable conditions and economic security for New Mexico women and families!

EN ESPAÑOL


Alerta para la acción – ¡HB38 será enviada al Comité judicial de la Cámara de representantes!


Muchas gracias a todos quienes se pusieron en contacto con los miembros del Comité de comercio y desarrollo económico de la Cámara de representantes.  HB38 fue aprobada por el comité con 7 votos a favor y 3 en contra.

Ahora vamos al Comité judicial de la Cámara de representantes, en la que HB38 -Ley de ausencia pagada por motivos familiares y médicos- será presentada la semana entrante. Les proporcionaremos la fecha exacta lo más pronto posible.  Mientras tanto, necesitamos su ayuda con lo siguiente:

1.  Envíe correos electrónicos/llame por teléfono a los miembros del Comité judicial de la Cámara de representantes para expresar su apoyo a esta iniciativa de ley y pedirles que voten a favor de la HB38.

2.  Movilizar sus redes de contactos para que envíen correos electrónicos a los miembros del Comité para pedirles que voten a favor de la iniciativa.

3.  Preparar un comentario de participación pública que sea compartido durante la audiencia.  Hemos visto el alcance que tienen los comentarios de participación pública. Una historia de 60 segundos puede persuadir a los legisladores y cambiar sus votos.

Estaremos en contacto para proporcionar más detalles acerca de los siguientes pasos una vez que se haya fijado la fecha de la audiencia.

¡Muchas gracias por su dedicación para asegurar las condiciones de igualdad y seguridad económica para las mujeres y familias de Nuevo México!

House Judiciary Committee
 
Gail Chasey (Chair)
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4411
Email: gail@gailchasey.com
 
Micaela Lara Cadena (Vice Chair)
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4210
Email: micaela.cadena@nmlegis.gov
 
Eliseo Lee Alcon
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4416
Email: eliseo.alcon@nmlegis.gov
 
Deborah A. Armstrong
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4344
Email: deborah.armstrong@nmlegis.gov
 
Zachary J. Cook
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4221
Email: zachary.cook@nmlegis.gov
 
Brian Egolf
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4782
Email: brian.egolf@nmlegis.gov
 
Daymon Ely
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4243
Email: daymon.ely@nmlegis.gov
 
Georgene Louis
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4329
Email: georgene.louis@nmlegis.gov
 
Matthew McQueen
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4423
Email: matthew.mcqueen@nmlegis.gov
 
Greg Nibert
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4211
Email: greg.nibert@nmlegis.gov
 
William “Bill” R. Rehm
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4214
Email: bill.rehm@nmlegis.gov
 
James G. Townsend
Capitol: (505) 986 – 4758
Email: townsend@pvtn.net
 

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