Clinton Expands Family Leave Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.

States would be permitted to offer paid leave for parents to care for a new or adopted child under a directive by President Clinton.

In a major expansion of the landmark 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act, Clinton ordered the Labor Department to draw up regulations permitting states to use surplus unemployment insurance to subsidize leave for new parents.

More than half the states reportedly are running unemployment insurance surpluses. Four states — Maryland, Massachusetts, Vermont and Washington — already have asked the federal government to approve the use of those funds for worker leave benefits.

During a commencement ceremony May 23 at Grambling State University in Louisiana, where he announced his decision, Clinton said many families now don’t take advantage of the law. “They can’t afford to take the time off because they can’t live without their paychecks.’’

The Labor Department says it will take at least a few months to prepare the new regulations, which will serve as a guide for states to draft their own legislation if they wish to take advantage of the voluntary program.

Clinton’s order also will allow federal employees to use up to 12 weeks of accumulated sick leave to care for seriously ill family members. About 2 percent of AFSCME’s 1.3 million members are employed by the federal government.

Federal workers currently can use up to 13 days of accrued paid sick leave annually to care for a seriously ill child, parent or spouse. They can also take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a seriously ill family member or for a new or newly adopted child.

The White House estimated the new federal leave policy will cost about $60 million.