Time to Care Act introduced to MD legislators, could provide more paid parental leave

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Maryland legislators will be looking at a bill this year that aims to make sure people have the paid family leave they need.  House Bill 341, also known as the Time to Care Act of 2019 was introduced by Delegate Ariana Kelly. If passed, the state would create a family and medical leave insurance program, similar to unemployment insurance or short term disability insurance. Both employees and employers would contribute and would provide workers up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for new children or other family members with serious health conditions or disabilities. And while there are supporters of this new piece of legislation, local lawmakers say they have some reservations.

“Anytime you put an obligation on the employer to guarantee reemployment for someone who’s out 12 weeks, that is a lot of time for someone to be gone whether they’re being paid or not out of the employers pocketbook,” said Delegate Chris Adams.

Adams adds that they’ll be having a bill hearing for the Time to Care Act in early February.