Contact: Ben Bialek, 301-261-2461

For Immediate Release: January 17, 2002

Duncan, Ruben, Barve Announce
Legislation to Expand Maryland's
Family and Medical Leave Act

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, Senator Ida G. Ruben and Delegate Kumar P. Barve today announced legislation to extend family and medical leave benefits to workers in Maryland businesses that employ between 25 to 49 persons. The current federal Family and Medical Leave Act covers only firms employing 50 or more persons. If the legislation is passed, Maryland would join the states of Oregon and Vermont, in addition to the District of Columbia, in providing extended coverage to employees in smaller businesses.

"More than 160,000 additional Maryland workers would benefit from the expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act," said Duncan. "In the wake of September 11 and the downturn in the economy, employees are more vulnerable to layoffs and a loss of benefits. This bill would assist those workers and minimize the impact of these difficult times."

Sponsored by Ruben and Barve, The Maryland Family and Medical Leave Act of 2002 is designed to help employees balance the demands of the workplace with family needs and to promote economic security of families. According to the sponsors, the legislation was modeled after a successful program in Oregon.

The new law would allow employees to maintain their health insurance benefits, while being granted up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period to care for:

To be eligible, a worker must have been employed for one year by the employer and performed at least 1,250 hours of service for the employer. The employee must work at a site where at least 25 persons are employed within 75 miles.

Senator Ruben, chair of the Montgomery County Senate delegation said, "I believe this legislation will strengthen both the family and the workplace environment and that it will promote more consistent and equitable family leave policies in the workplace."

"Families in crisis should not have to choose between work and home responsibilities," said Delegate Barve, chair of the Montgomery County House delegation. "This legislation will allow employees of mid-sized companies to receive the same protections available to those in larger businesses."

According to estimates, the law would affect at least additional 163,000 workers, or approximately 8.4 per cent of Maryland's workforce.

Speaking in support of the bill, Montgomery County Commission for Women Executive Director Judith Vaughan-Prather said, "Today, the majority of women of child-bearing and child-rearing age are employed, with many of them in the 'sandwich' generation caring for both dependent children and aging parents. That's why the guarantee of being able to return to one's job after an extended absence for childbirth or to care for the medical needs of a family member is one of the most important provisions we can establish to ensure the economic stability of Maryland families."

The legislation would take effect January 1, 2003 and would be administered by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

For more information, call Ben Bialek at 301-261-2461.