Tennessee Senate passes paid family leave for some state employees, but not all

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — After a three-year combat on Tennessee’s Capitol Hill, the Senate formally handed paid household depart Thursday for some state staff.

Beneath the invoice, dad and mom of a new child of a newly adopted youngster can take as much as 12 work weeks off, with full pay, and all the weeks do not must be consecutive.

The invoice acquired bipartisan assist from Senate leaders.

“Our state staff work very arduous and felt like this was a essential profit so we’re more than happy the laws handed,” mentioned Sen. Jack Johnson, the Senate Majority Chief and Republican from Franklin.

“That is permitting our households throughout the state to have the assist they want once they have youngsters, once they undertake youngsters and I’m glad this lastly made it over the hump,” mentioned Sen. Raumesh Akbari, the Senate Minority Chief and Democrat from Memphis.

That being mentioned, Democrats did have one main concern: the invoice would not apply to all state staff. As a compromise to get the invoice handed, solely staff of the state’s government and judicial branches qualify.

“The laws didn’t cross [three years ago], it wouldn’t cross out of committee. And so, because it’s a Governor’s initiative, I believe it exhibits he’s prioritizing this for our state staff and our legislature simply hasn’t made that soar but,” mentioned Sen. Akbari.

Sen. Johnson mentioned it got here right down to funds.

“There’s a fiscal affect clearly to this state, and so we needed to ensure we had sufficient revenues to have the ability to accommodate that, and this was the yr to get it finished,” mentioned Johnson.

The invoice nonetheless has to cross within the Tennessee Home of Representatives earlier than it turns into regulation. If that occurs, the regulation would go into impact this July.