FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — Some new parents in the Golden State would be able to request unpaid time off, without the fear of ending up unemployed, under a revived bill that’s advancing in Sacramento.
An almost identical measure failed in the Assembly Labor Committee, back in June.
However, that vote followed a public call by the legislation’s author, Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson, for committee chairman Roger Hernandez to take a leave of absence, amid allegations of domestic violence.
Some deemed his vote to kill the measure retaliation, which he’s denied.
A judge later declared the allegations against Hernandez credible, leading to his losing the post, and the revival of the bill.
If signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, SB 654 would expand family leave policies in workplaces with fewer than fifty employees, to allow new parents to take up to six weeks of unpaid leave, if there are more than twenty workers.
