Colorado officials proposed the idea of expanding the state's paid family and medical leave program to include parents if they have a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
The proposal comes from the Colorado State Legislature's vote and will add 12 weeks of paid leave for eligible parents. The vice president of Colorado-based A Better Balance, Jared Make, said that the state's FAMLI program has long been a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of workers in Colorado.
Paid Leave for NICU Parents
They are the ones who have been using the program to care for themselves and their loved ones since it was implemented last year. The program is now set to expand so that it covers the needs of parents who have children in the NICU and are navigating a stressful and typically costly time.
Officials believe that the last thing parents who have babies in the NICU should be worrying about is losing their income or their jobs. The proposal of adding 12 weeks' leave will let these parents be present during this crucial time without sacrificing other aspects, according to A Better Balance.
The organization is also urging Colorado lawmakers to continue to model a strong, comprehensive state-paid family and medical leave program. They are also calling on Gov. Jared Polis to sign the latest legislation as soon as possible.
Rep. Yara Zokaie shared her own experience, revealing that when she decided to run for office, she was motivated by her son who spent time in the NICU after being born. She noted that her son had some complications, forcing them to spend a lot of time in the hospital.
Zokaie is one of the four sponsors who believe that NICU parents deserve to receive extended paid leave depending on how long their child is in the hospital. The proposed changes were originally brought up at the beginning of February, KKTV reported.
Helping Families Be Together
The lawmaker added that they are excited to deliver better care for Colorado families, knowing that having kids at the hospital is a crucial time for parents. In the bill's first reading by the senate clerk, it passed without objection and is now being considered in the committee on appropriations with favorable recommendations.
Another lawmaker, Colorado state Sen. Jeff Bridges, celebrated the first birthday of his son in the NICU as he was born weighing only two pounds. His wife, Rie, said that parents typically have the thought of being able to hold their baby in their arms when they are born.
However, the couple had to wait a week before they could do so with their son. The state lawmaker noted that a happy moment in their lives became something that was relatively frightening, as per CBS News.
The senator noted that parents have a hard enough time when a child is born in the NICU, but the idea of being forced to leave them to go back to work makes it even more difficult. Bridges added that this forces families to make difficult decisions for their loved ones.
