Hochul signs bill expanding Paid Family Leave to include siblings

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Gov. Kathy Hochul Monday signed a bill expanding New York State’s Paid Family Leave to include caring for siblings.

Currently, the state’s Paid Family Leave covers newly born, adopted or fostered children, spouses, domestic partners, children and step-children, parents, parents-in-law, grandparents and grandchildren, but not siblings.

Employees can take leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition or assist them if a loved one is deployed abroad on active military service.

They can take up to 12 weeks off at 67% of their pay, up to a cap.

The program has been in place since 2016. Click here for more information about it.

The change will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.

Hochul explained the reasoning for the change during a press conference Monday afternoon.

"Think of these various scenarios: You’re a single mom, you’re pregnant, take care of yourself perhaps other children and your parents, but you aren’t able to help you but you have a sibling who is able to be there," Hochul said. "To help you get home from the hospital. Take care of the kids just for a short time."

Hochul also said the ability to take care of your family is a human right and employers need to be able to offer paid family leave in order to keep their employees.

Watch the press conference Hochul held on Monday where she made the announcement in the video in the player below (mobile users, click here):