By Robert Nott, Santa Fe New Mexican
Nov. 29, 2022

Lawmakers plan to take another swing at creating a paid family and medical leave fund during the next legislative session.

Passing the bill won’t be easy. Similar efforts have failed to make it through the Legislature going as far back as 20 years ago, according to a new task force report on the issue presented Monday to lawmakers on the interim Economic Development and Policy Committee.

The fund will use both employer and employee contributions to pay employees up to 12 weeks of paid leave per year for a number of reasons, including childbirth, bereavement for the loss of a child and situations involving domestic abuse.

“Not everyone can shell out $5,000 every time someone needs to take some time out to take care of family,” Rep. Linda Serrato, D-Santa Fe, told committee members, referring to costs incurred during unpaid leave when employees have babies or need to deal with a serious medical problem.

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