$50 Million for Paid Family Leave in President Obama’s Budget

President Obama’s recently proposed 2011 federal budget includes a $50 million State Paid Leave Fund. The fund will provide start-up support for state governments that want to enact paid leave options for workers.
“A handful of States have enacted policies to offer paid family leave, but more States should have the chance,” notes an Office of Management and Budget fact sheet on how the proposed budget will support middle-class families. “The Budget establishes a $50 million State Paid Leave Fund within the Department of Labor that will provide competitive grants to help States that choose to launch paid-leave programs to cover their start-up costs.  The Budget also provides resources to allow the Department of Labor to explore ways to improve the collection of data related to intersection of work and family responsibilities.”