HB3 – Family Leave Passes

The Senate last week passed HB3 (Paid Parental Family Leave for State Employees) by a vote of 16-4, with 1 Senator absent.  House Bill 3 will give employees of state government or school districts up to 12 weeks of paid leave if they have a baby or adopt a child no older than 6. Leave will expire if not used after one year and will cover only full-time employees who have been with the state for at least a year.  It will apply to both mothers and fathers.  Every Democrat voted yes, and 4 Republicans voted no (Hocker,  Lawson, Pettyjohn, Simpson).  Earlier this month, the measure passed the House last week by a 27-13 margin.

Thanks to Representative Debra Heffernan for taking the lead on the sponsorship of this bill.

HB3 – Paid Family Leave for State Employees.
STATUS – Onto the Governor.
HISTORY – Passed the House 27-13.  Passed the Senate 16-4-1.
SPONSORS – Heffernan, McDowell, Henry, Lopez, Townsend, Baumbach, Bennett, Bentz, Bolden, Keeley, Kowalko, Longhurst, Lynn, Potter, B.Short, Spiegelman, Williams
YES – B. Short, Baumbach, Bennett, Bentz, Bolden, Bonini, Brady, Bushweller, Carson, Delcollo, Ennis, Hansen, Heffernan, Henry, Hensley, J. Johnson, Jaques, K. Williams, Keeley, Kowalko, Lavelle, Longhurst, Lynn, M. Smith, Marshall, McBride, McDowell, Matthews, Miro, Mitchell, Mulrooney, Osienski, Poore, Potter, Q. Johnson, Richardson, Schwartzkopf, Sokola, Spiegelman, Townsend, Viola, Walsh
NO – Briggs King, Collins, D. Short, Dukes, Gray, Hocker, Hudson, Kenton, Lawson, Outten, Postles, Ramone, Smyk, Wilson, Yearick
ABSENT – Cloutier, Paradee
NOT VOTING – None

Photo courtesy of the Delaware House Democratic Caucus Facebook page.