Short Term Disability Benefits: S172-A Ramos / A9571 Bronson

MEMORANDUM OF SUPPORT

S172-A Ramos / A9571 Bronson
Relates to increasing short-term disability benefits

The above-referenced legislation would provide increases to the temporary disability insurance benefit and expand it to cover leave for stillbirths. This is a laudable and much-needed change. The New York State Catholic Conference supports this bill and urges its passage.

Mothers and fathers who lose a child to stillbirth need time to grieve the loss and to heal physically and emotionally. The loss of a child that has been nurtured in the womb, planned and hoped for, is devastating. The United States is an outlier in not recognizing that paid leave is critical after a stillbirth. We applaud the sponsors for their action in addressing this issue.

This legislation offers a solution to a longtime inequity. The bill would provide common sense support to families in their darkest hours. We urge you to support this bill.