State Senate supports studying Indiana paid leave program

Sen. Karen Taillan, D-Portage, introduced a resolution that asks the Indiana Legislative Council to create a study committee to explore the creation of a voluntary paid family and medical leave program for Indiana employers, which the Senate advanced to the House of Representatives on Monday.

"This is a study committee for a voluntary program," Taillon said.

Taillan's proposed study committee would considering creating a program for Indiana employers to offer paid parental and medical leave modeled on the unpaid leave offered under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

"While it is important to offer unpaid leave protection, providing paid leave would do wonders to the average family and employer alike," the resolution read. "Current research shows that paid family leave offers benefits to employers by boosting retention and reducing turnover costs, attracting talented employees, reinforcing a company's values, providing increased employee morale, and better productivity."

The study committee would look at various ways to fund that type of program, Taillan said.

Taillan's resolution said only 38 percent of the workforce is covered by the Family and Medical Leave act and able to afford unpaid leave.

"Though FMLA is a step in the right direction, the lack of pay during leave places a significant financial burden on individuals and their families," the resolution read. "Now is the idea time for Indiana to craft its own paid FMLA policies without overburdening employers."

Last session, Taillan said the Senate, House and governor agreed to start the committee but one was never created.

"Unfortunately, it was not assigned by the Legislative Council," Taillan said.

Since the last legislative session, paid parental leave programs have been created for state employees and in many local communities, including Lake County.

The Lake County Council in December created a paid parental leave program for county employees. The new policy, sponsored by Councilwoman Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, allows mothers and fathers to take up to two weeks after a new baby is born or they've adopted a child.

The council's policy change came on the heels of Gov. Eric Holcomb's executive order that created a parental leave program for state employees. Holcomb's order would give state employees up to four weeks of leave and it took effect on Jan. 1.

Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, said not enough is being done to support families and he had put a bill to study paid leave but it did not move out of committee.

"I think this is a resolution that's badly needed," Randolph said.

Sen. R. Michael Young , R-Indianapolis, questioned the purpose of a study committee.

"I don't know why we want to use our tax dollars to look at something that's voluntary," Young said.