Moms Urge State Lawmakers To Pass Paid Family & Medical Leave

Emily Scolnick is a 2026 Dow Jones News Fund at the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. 

By Emily Scolnick | Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Six weeks after Nicole Kutufaris of Philadelphia gave birth to her daughter, she was back at work to help her family avoid childcare costs they “simply could not afford.”

Her employer had approved seven weeks of leave, giving Kutufaris more flexibility than some mothers in Pennsylvania, who are often forced to return to work quickly or denied paid leave when they have children. 

Now, she and other mothers from across the commonwealth are calling on the state Senate to pass the Pennsylvania Family Care Act, which would establish a statewide paid family and medical leave program. 

One version of the bill originated in and has passed the House. Another from the Senate passed the Labor & Industry Committee last week and was re-referred to the Rules and Executive Nominations committee on Monday. 

At a press conference on Wednesday, Rep. Jennifer O’Mara (D-Delaware) called on senators to pass a version of the proposal, saying that the House is “ready and willing” to make the Family Care Act law. 

“Moms need it,” she said. “We all need it, and businesses will thrive.” 

Mashell Terney, a leader of Mother Forward, called the current paid leave situation for mothers a “nightmare.”

“Too many moms in Pennsylvania have to go to work even though their babies won’t take a bottle, [or] refuse to eat,” she said. 

Anita Reedy of Pittsburgh addressed her comments directly to the representatives who voted against the House legislation. 

“You voted against moms, you voted against families. You voted against providing peace of mind and economic security to Pennsylvanians who are going through the most trying times of their lives,” she said. 

Kutufaris said the only reason she secured her limited family leave was because she had a supportive employer, but it wasn’t enough time. 

“I was learning how to be a mother while navigating sleepless nights, feeding challenges, and all of the responsibilities that come with caring for a newborn,” she said. “Returning to work felt less like a choice and more like a looming deadline that bulked itself into our daily lives as anticipatory dread weeks before my actual return.” 

She emphasized that many Pennsylvania parents are forced to return to work after childbirth before they are physically and emotionally ready to do so. “Welcoming a child should not push a family into crisis,” she said. “Parents should not have to choose between bonding with their newborn and paying their bills.” 

Legislative differences

The House and Senate versions of the Family Care Act contain two distinct differences: the duration of the leave and how paid leave benefits are provided. 

In the House’s version, which passed in March by a 107-92 vote and is sponsored by O’Mara, leave is limited to 12 weeks regardless of the reason. Employers can provide benefits for leaves beyond that time  at their discretion, but it is not a requirement.  

The Senate’s version, sponsored by Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny), allows for 20 weeks of leave for the birth or adoption of a child or a serious medical condition. It allows for 12 weeks to care for a loved one for any reason. 

The two chambers’ bills also have different methods for funding the paid leave.

The House measure calls for the establishment of a restricted account in Pennsylvania’s general fund that would be used solely to provide grants to employers to support workers’ paid leave. The grant program would be centralized within the Department of Community and Economic Development. 

Employers would be eligible to apply if they are self-employed or have fewer than 50 employees and regularly pay benefits to themselves or their employees, according to the proposal.

The Senate measure does not require any contributions from employers. Instead, it relies on payroll contributions from every employee in Pennsylvania. 

The deductions would not exceed 1% of employees’ wages, according to the legislation. However, it ensures that employers can provide paid leave at no cost. Employers who withhold their employees’ contributions would be subject to penalties. 

The Senate plan states that the state Department of Labor and Industry would administer the paid leave benefits following the employee contributions. 

It  also allows employees to portion out their leave, which would allow them flexibility and would not reduce their benefits. The proposal provides protections to ensure an employee will keep their position and existing healthcare benefits upon returning from leave, and it prohibits employer interference with or retaliation for benefits. 

Pennsylvania Capital-Star is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Pennsylvania Capital-Star maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Tim Lambert for questions: info@penncapital-star.com.