Rhode Island adds paid family leave

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island will become the third state to provide workers paid time off to care for a baby or sick family member, as Democratic Gov. Lincoln Chafee on Thursday signed legislation providing the vast majority of the state’s workforce with temporary caregiver insurance.

The law has been hailed by advocates as a victory for working families both nationally and locally, who say that it will allow people to care for loved ones during a medical crisis without worrying about paying their bills.

Some form of paid family leave is required in most industrialized countries, but federal law in the United States requires only that large employers grant certain workers 12 weeks of unpaid leave. California and New Jersey are currently the only other states that offer paid family leave. Washington state has passed similar legislation but has put off implementing it.

The Rhode Island program allows workers to collect a portion of their regular paycheck for up to four weeks if they’re caring for a new child or ailing parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, domestic partner or spouse. It is scheduled to begin on Jan. 1.

Sen. Gayle Goldin, D-Providence, who sponsored the legislation, says it will help workers balance the needs of their families when someone they love has a serious illness, or when they bring a new child into their lives.

“It’s thrilling to know that Rhode Island is going to lead the nation on this,” she said.