California State Leadership Revives "For Kids" Paid Family Leave Bill

In a recent Sacramento Bee op-ed, Common Sense Kids Action CEO James Steyer highlighted the deplorable action taken by California Assemblyman Roger Hernandez to kill important paid family leave legislation that had received our "For Kids" rating. Steyer argued that Hernandez had acted for petty political reasons that had nothing to do with what was best for kids and families.

Steyer also called on legislative leadership to do what was necessary to revive the bill when the California State Legislature returned from its July recess. The Bee subsequently echoed this call in an editorial last week.

That call has been answered. Senate President Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon revived the bill this week. We commend them for their leadership and prioritizing children and families.

We've supported Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson's bill every step of the way and will continue to do all we can to get it passed because of the significant benefits it will provide for new parents and their children in California. That's why we gave this bill a "For Kids" rating in our Common Sense Legislative Ratings.

Bonding during the first 12 weeks of life is critical for children and their relationship with their parents, as highlighted in our Right Start Commission's report, Rebuilding the California Dream, as well as by many other early childhood experts.

Providing new parents with essential job protections during this time is too important to allow a disgraced politician to kill a bill because of a personal vendetta. Thanks to Senate President de Leon and Speaker Rendon, we hope this vital bill will now get the fair hearing it deserves and, ultimately, make it to Governor Brown's desk for his signature.

California's families need your support to ensure that this bill gets a fair hearing. 

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