Pregnant people in New York may soon receive forty hours of paid leave during pregnancy under a new proposal by Governor Kathy Hochul during a preview of her State of the State address on Thursday, January 4th.
Under the new proposal, pregnant people would receive forty hours of paid leave to attend prenatal medical appointments, as opposed to the current law which offers twelve weeks of paid leave only after the birth of the child.
Hochul stated:
Consistent medical care in the early months makes all the difference, and it can detect problems, makes adjustments if necessary. We hope what we’re doing here in New York will raise the bar for the rest of the nation.
The proposal aims to expand access to high-quality prenatal care and prevent maternal and infant deaths which primarily affect low-income and minority communities. Recent CDC statistics revealed a 3% increase in infant mortality for the first time in over two decades.
If the proposal is approved by the state Legislature, New York would become the first state in the country to offer paid family leave during pregnancy.
Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado stated:
In New York, we refuse to accept the maternal and infant mortality crisis – we’re taking action to ensure women and babies have the lifesaving healthcare options and services they deserve. This is how we address existing disparities and support families statewide. We will proudly lead the way.
This new proposal builds on Hochul’s recent actions to support new parents and improve maternal health outcomes including extending postpartum coverage for up to a full year after the end of a pregnancy for Medicaid and Child Health Plus enrollees.
“As New York’s first mom governor, this is personal to me,” stated Hochul. “We are committed to tackling this crisis head-on with policies that lift up parents and children throughout the State of New York.”
You can learn more here.