World Courant
A supplementary finances, signed by Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills, offers most staff as much as 12 weeks of paid household and medical go away. This system will begin in 2026. all of the surprising ups and downs which might be simply info of life,” Mills wrote in an op-ed.
Most Maine staff rise up to 12 weeks of paid household or medical go away as a part of a supplemental finances. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed the regulation into regulation on Tuesday.
The spending invoice included $25 million in start-up prices for the state program that can enable staff — beginning in 2026 — to obtain paid day without work to cope with sickness, take care of a member of the family or for the delivery of a kid.
Maine joins a dozen different states which have paid household and sick go away packages. The main focus of the laws was on the state degree after Congress failed to achieve traction.
MAINE LAW APPROVES BUDGET ADDENDUM WITH PAID 12-WEEK FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAM
This system caught the eye of the White Home, the place press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre applauded the state’s motion.
“Paid household and sick go away improves the lives of working households and strengthens our workforce and financial system,” she stated, including that the Biden administration has labored to make the federal authorities a mannequin by supporting federal workers in acquiring of the required go away.
To place it in private phrases, Mills stated she deeply understood the necessity for this system — having come to phrases with the lack of a husband following a debilitating stroke, the truth of elevating 5 stepdaughters alone, and caring for her personal aged mother and father, all whereas working full time.
“I do know firsthand the challenges of offering care to family members whereas attempting to cope with all of the surprising ups and downs which might be merely info of life,” she beforehand wrote in an op-ed within the newspaper.
Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday signed a supplemental finances that features a paid household and sick go away program that can go into impact in 2026. (AP Photograph/Robert F. Bukaty)
The Democratic-led legislature already accepted a virtually $10 billion finances for important companies that went into impact July 1. That finances was accepted in March alongside social gathering traces, Democrats stated, to keep away from any belated partisan try to make use of a authorities shutdown as a bargaining tactic.
The finances addendum, about $445 million in extras, is unlikely to enter impact till late October as a result of it did not garner a two-thirds majority within the legislature that ought to have gone into impact instantly.
It consists of language to launch the paid go away program that shall be funded by a payroll tax cut up between workers and employers and capped at 1% of wages. Eligible situations embrace the delivery or adoption of a kid, a critical sickness, the care of a sick relative, or the transition from army deployment.
Firms with fewer than 15 workers will not be required to pay employer contributions to this system. Firms that already provide related advantages can merely persist with their present plans.
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Key to the assist have been a number of tax-related proposals, together with one which elevated the quantity of retirement revenue exempt from state revenue tax from $30,000 to $35,000. Lawmakers additionally included cash to double baby care staff’ wages, in addition to funding for the governor’s proposed Dirigo Enterprise Tax Incentive Plan, which might substitute current Pine Tree Improvement Zones.
The governor initially opposed the paid go away proposal, which was opposed by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and others within the enterprise group, however the invoice was amended to win her assist.
“I am over the moon,” State Senator Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, stated after accepting a White Home congratulatory name and attending the signing ceremony. She sponsored the invoice with Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston.
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Collectively, the important companies finances and the supplementary finances deliver spending to historic ranges — about $10.3 billion — however it stays balanced and the state’s wet day fund stays at an all-time excessive, stated Kirsten Figueroa, commissioner for the Division of Administrative and Monetary Companies.
Maine passes paid household, sick go away proposal in supplemental finances
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