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U.S. NEWSWednesday 6 April 2016

American Living:

San Francisco approves fully paid leave for new parents

Founder and CEO Mark Dwight holds a backpack while posing at his Rickshaw Bagworks factory needs to change,” Super- campaign as companies,
on Monday, April 4, 2016, in San Francisco. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is voting on visor Scott Wiener, who especially in Silicon Valley,
whether to require six weeks of fully paid leave for new parents - a move that would be a first for pushed the measure, said start offering better ben-
any jurisdiction. The proposal to be voted on Tuesday would require San Francisco employers at a news conference be- efits. Twitter announced
with at least 20 employees to make up the rest. fore the vote. Tuesday that it would offer
The measure requires an- up to 20 weeks of fully paid
(AP Photo/Eric Risberg) other formal vote by the leave for new parents start-
board next week as well as ing May 1.
JANIE HAR latest move to address in- some government sector approval by Mayor Ed Lee, San Francisco approved a
Associated Press come inequality in the na- workers and some private but the unanimous vote $15 hourly minimum wage
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — tion. employees, particularly makes the measure veto- for workers in 2014. Cali-
San Francisco became the The measure approved those who work in the tech proof. Lee was not imme- fornia Gov. Jerry Brown
first place in the country unanimously by the Board industry. diately available for com- signed legislation Monday
Tuesday to require busi- of Supervisors will give “The vast majority of work- ment. mandating that amount
nesses to provide fully paid new mothers and fathers ers in this country have Small business owners com- for the entire state.
leave for new parents in six weeks of fully paid time little or no access to paid plained that the mandate The U.S. lags other countries
what was hailed as the off, a rarity now offered to parental leave, and that is the latest in a long list of in providing parental leave
city mandates — including and is the only major indus-
paid sick leave and health trialized nation that doesn’t
coverage — that unfairly require paid leave.
targets them. Federal law grants workers
“They don’t necessarily up to 12 weeks of unpaid
have the resources, they leave. California, Rhode
can’t absorb the increases Island and New Jersey pro-
in cost, and they feel like vide partial pay, with the
it’s kind of relentless, it’s money coming from em-
one thing after the next,” ployees. Legislators in New
said Dee Dee Workman, York last month approved
vice president of public up to 12 weeks of partial
policy at the San Francisco pay.
Chamber of Commerce. The state of California cur-
The issue of paid parental rently allows workers to re-
leave is gaining momen- ceive 55 percent of their
tum across the country pay for up to six weeks to
much like the debate over bond with a new child. The
a higher minimum wage. money comes from a state
Paid leave has become insurance program funded
a topic in the presidential by workers.

Lawmakers take on bill inspired by marathon bombing survivor

MATT O’BRIEN The bill is a response to guage in the existing law. that shook all of New Eng- to have her left leg ampu-
Associated Press the bureaucratic struggles The House voted 68-0 to land.” Abbott is a Newport tated. She formed a non-
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — encountered by Heather pass the bill last month. A resident and has not pub- profit foundation last year
Rhode Island lawmakers Abbott when she applied Senate committee voted licly commented on the to help other amputees.
inspired by a resident who for the state’s crime victim Tuesday to move it to the legislation. The state’s fund assists
lost a leg in the Boston compensation fund after full Senate. Abbott was watching Rhode Island residents and
Marathon bombings are the April 2013 attack. Its sponsor is Senate Presi- the race when she was their families if they are vic-
moving forward on legis- General Treasurer Seth dent Teresa Paiva Weed, catapulted through the tims of violent crime, cover-
lation to make victims of Magaziner, who adminis- a Newport Democrat who entrance of a restaurant ing up to $25,000 for medi-
terrorist attacks eligible for ters the fund, has said the said before Tuesday’s hear- when the second bomb cal bills, loss of earnings or
compensation even if the legislation would prevent ing that the attack on the exploded. Later, in the hos- other costs.
attack happened outside such hurdles in the future Boston Marathon “was an pital, she said she had to It’s designed as a fund of
the state. by clarifying conflicting lan- act of domestic terrorism make the difficult decision last resort.