Family leave bill set back by committee vote
CONCORD — Supporters of a bill to create a paid family leave insurance plan for New Hampshire workers were disappointed on Wednesday when the House Commerce Committee voted 11-9 along party lines against the idea, with all Republicans on the committee opposed.
The committee vote came less than a month after the full House voted 183-151 in support of the measure.
After the House action, the bill, HB 628, was referred to the Commerce Committee for further consideration, resulting in the negative vote.
The bill now has to go before the Finance Committee and back to the full House.
The plan calls for a 0.5 percent wage contribution from employees, who can choose to opt out of the program by filling out a form and having it notarized. After qualifying, a worker would get 60 percent of average wages for up to 12 weeks, with a minimum benefit of $125 a week.
Read more: http://www.unionleader.com/state-government/Family-leave-bill-set-back-by-committee-vote-02012018
