Rhode Island Nonprofits Support for Paid Family Leave
Dear Speaker Shekarchi, Majority Leader Blazejewski, Minority Leader Chippendale, and Chairman Corvese,
As nonprofit businesses and employers dedicated to the well-being and prosperity of Rhode Island families, the undersigned organizations are in strong support of H-7171 and S-2121, which would expand Rhode Island's Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI), our state’s Paid Family Leave program. These are budget neutral proposals, as TCI is fully funded by Rhode Island workers. These bills would ensure that all eligible Rhode Islanders have access to job-protected paid family leave by strengthening TCI, so that Rhode Island families can care for their loved ones when they need it most.
TCI, as proposed by H-7171 and S-2121, would:
Increase the maximum benefit from six to twelve weeks.
Allow siblings, grandchildren, and designated care recipients to be eligible for TCI.
Increase the weekly dependent’s allowance from $10 to $20 or 7% of the individual’s benefit rate, whichever is greater.
Rhode Island was once a leader in providing paid family leave to workers. Since then, 10 states, including neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut, have implemented much more comprehensive paid family leave programs that provide 12 weeks and higher benefit rates. We recognize that there are gaps in the current program that leave many families and marginalized communities without the support they need during times of need or crisis.
As nonprofit organizations, we believe that expanding the TCI program is not only a matter of compassion and fairness, but also a crucial step towards building a stronger, more resilient workforce and economy in Rhode Island. The 1,355 non-profit employers registered in Rhode Island comprise 16.6% of the state’s private sector employment and 16.3% of the total private sector wages paid in 2022. Access to paid family leave has been shown to be very beneficial for small businesses, like ours, by reducing employee turnover, increasing workforce participation, and improving health outcomes for both caregivers and their loved ones. By ensuring that all Rhode Islanders have access to comprehensive paid family leave benefits, we can create a more equitable and prosperous future for our state.
We commend the sponsors, Senate Majority Whip Lawson and Representative Giraldo, for their leadership in advancing this important legislation. We also commend Senate leadership for making this legislation a priority for the 2024 legislative session. As the Senate has recently passed this bill for the second year in a row, we urge the House of Representatives leadership to support its passage without delay.
We strongly support this legislation and urge the House to move this bill out of the House Labor Committee and onto the House Floor for a vote. Now more than ever, Rhode Island families need the security and stability that comes with access to paid family leave. We look forward to working together to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to the paid family leave benefits they need to thrive.
Signed,
AARP Rhode Island
Adoption Rhode Island
American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island
Beautiful Beginnings Child Care Center
BLM RI PAC
Buy Nothing Day Coat Exchange
Eastside Early Learning Center
Economic Progress Institute
Foster Forward
Higher Ground International
Housing Network of Rhode Island
Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island
Latino Policy Institute
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Mercy Ecology Inc
PACE Organization of RI
Planned Parenthood of Southern New England
Progreso Latino
Protect Our Healthcare Coalition
Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children (RIAEYC)
Rhode Island AFL-CIO
Rhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health (RIAIMH)
Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA)
Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV)
Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families (RICCF)
Rhode Island Coalition for Reproductive Freedom
Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN)
Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association
Rhode Island Working Families Party
RI Organizing Project
RIght from the Start Campaign
Rosa Parks Resource Center
SEIU 1199NE
Senior Agenda Coalition of RI
SISTA Fire
Sojourner House
Stop Torture RI Coalition
The Center for Women and Enterprise
The Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
The R.I. Center for Justice
The Womxn Project
Women’s Fund of Rhode Island
Woonsocket Head Start Child Development Association, Inc.