President Barack Obama's budget proposal for fiscal year 2011 includes $50 million in grants for states that choose to launch paid family leave programs.
Obama wants to create a fund within the Department of Labor to help states launch paid-leave programs cover their start-up costs. Obama argues that while the Family and Medical Leave Act allows workers to take job-protected time off unpaid, many families can't afford to lose that paycheck.
A few states have already approved paid family leave programs, including California, New Jersey, and Washington.
The paid family leave program in Washington was scheduled to go in effect in 2009 but was delayed until 2012 because of a budget shortfall. In New Jersey, workers started collecting paid family leave benefits in July 2009. California's paid family leave program began in 2004. The programs provide wage replacement for a set number of weeks and are funded by workers' contributions
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