HLS 21RS-2299 ENGROSSED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 118
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER
LABOR: Creates a task force to study implementing a paid family and medical leave
program in the state
1 A RESOLUTION
2To create a task force to study and make recommendations for implementing a state-
3 mandated paid family and medical leave program for the benefit of Louisiana
4 workers.
5 WHEREAS, the United States is the only industrialized nation in the world that does
6not mandate access to paid family and medical leave benefits; and
7 WHEREAS, during the coronavirus pandemic, the Families First Coronavirus
8Response Act was signed into law, and it required certain employers to expand family and
9medical leave for specific reasons related to COVID-19; however, those provisions of the
10Act expired December 31, 2020; and
11 WHEREAS, on March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law
12and extended and expanded some provisions, including provisions referring to emergency
13paid family leave, of the Family First Coronavirus Response Act from April 1, 2021, through
14September 30, 2021; and
15 WHEREAS, there is currently federal law that addresses unpaid leave, which is
16known as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and it requires a business with at least
17fifty employees to provide unpaid leave; and
18 WHEREAS, a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program would
19guarantee leave for Louisiana workers, who may need to take temporary and necessary
20leave, to care for an ill family member, newborn, or newly adopted or fostered child, to
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HR NO. 118
1recover from a serious illness or temporary disability, such as pregnancy, or to address needs
2arising from a family member's military service deployment; and
3 WHEREAS, the lack of paid family and medical leave presents a challenge for
4Louisiana workers who, in some cases, have to continue working, while they are personally
5or seriously ill, so they do not risk losing their income; and
6 WHEREAS, another challenge Louisiana workers might face is that, in some cases,
7they may not be able to take care of family members who are seriously ill or take care of
8children because they do not have access to paid family and medical leave and cannot afford
9to not work and attend to their loved ones; and
10 WHEREAS, Louisiana's infant mortality rate is eight and seven tenths percent per
11one thousand live births, which is the second highest in the nation, and Louisiana's maternal
12mortality rate is fifty-eight and one tenth percent per one hundred thousand deaths, which
13is the highest in the nation; and
14 WHEREAS, one huge benefit of paid family and medical leave contended by
15proponents is that paid family and medical leave may decrease incidents of low birthweight
16and preterm births, reduce infant mortality rates, reduce rates of hospitalization among
17infants, reduce maternal mortality rates, and improve maternal health; and
18 WHEREAS, a paid family and medical leave program would not only benefit
19Louisiana workers and their families but also Louisiana employers because Louisiana
20employers can also participate in the paid family and medical leave program and utilize
21family and medical leave when necessary to take care of themselves and their own family
22members; and
23 WHEREAS, paid family and medical leave is not only beneficial healthwise, but
24could also provide an economic incentive, such as increasing labor force participation and
25employee productivity and increasing employee retention; and
26 WHEREAS, Louisiana prides itself on being a family-first state and implementing
27a paid family and medical leave program could provide both a favorable economical impact
28to the state and health and financial security for Louisiana workers and their families.
29 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
30Legislature of Louisiana does hereby establish the Paid Family and Medical Leave Task
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HR NO. 118
1Force to study and make recommendations for implementing a state-mandated paid family
2and medical leave program for the benefit of Louisiana workers.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the membership of the task force shall be as
4follows:
5 (1)The secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission or his designee.
6 (2)One representative from the Agenda for Children.
7 (3)One representative from the Louisiana Budget Project.
8 (4)One representative from the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice.
9 (5)One representative from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
10 (6)One representative from the National Federal of Independent Business.
11 (7)One representative from the New Orleans Maternal and Child Health
12 Coalition.
13 (8)One representative from the Council for a Better Louisiana.
14 (9)One representative from Lift Louisiana.
15 (10)One representative from the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council.
16 (11)One representative from the Louisiana AFL-CIO.
17 (12)One representative from the Louisiana Women Lead.
18 (13)One representative from the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
19 (14)One representative from the March of Dimes-Louisiana Chapter.
20 (15)One representative from the Louisiana Family Forum.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Workforce Commission shall
22provide staff support as needed by the task force.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that at the first meeting, the members of the task
24force shall elect a chairperson, who shall preside over the task force.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the task force shall serve without
26compensation.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall convene its first meeting by
28September 1, 2021, and shall meet as frequently as it deems necessary for the timely
29performance of its duties.
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HR NO. 118
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report of
2its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives of the Legislature of
3Louisiana not later than thirty days prior to the convening of the 2022 Regular Session.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall study and make
5recommendations on matters that include but are not limited to the following:
6 (1)Any and all benefits that Louisiana workers could receive if Louisiana
7 implemented a state-mandated paid family and medical leave program.
8 (2) The advantages and disadvantages of implementing a state-mandated paid
9 family and medical leave program.
10 (3)The mechanisms or measures to provide family and medical leave to self-
11 employed workers and gig workers.
12 (4)Who would fund the state-mandated paid family and medical leave program
13 and how would the program be funded?
14 (5)What other states, preferably neighboring states, if any, have enacted a state-
15 mandated paid family and medical leave program?
16 (6)If implemented, how can Louisiana structure its own state-mandated paid
17 family and medical leave program?
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
19secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the chief executive officer of the Agenda
20for Children, the executive director of the Louisiana Budget Project, the chief executive
21officer of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, the president of the Louisiana
22Association of Business and Industry, the Louisiana state director of the National Federation
23of Independent Business, the coordinator of the New Orleans Maternal and Child Health
24Coalition, the president of the Council for a Better Louisiana, the executive director of Lift
25Louisiana, the chairperson of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, the
26president of the Louisiana AFL-CIO, the executive director of the Louisiana Women Lead,
27the president of the March of Dimes-Louisiana Chapter, the president of the Louisiana
28Family Forum, and the executive director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic
29Violence.
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HR NO. 118
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 118 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session Carpenter
Creates the Family and Medical Leave Task Force to study and make recommendations for
implementing a mandated paid family and medical leave program for the benefit of
Louisiana workers.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Labor and Industrial
Relations to the original bill:
1. Add to the task force one representative from both the March of Dimes-
Louisiana Chapter and Louisiana Family Forum.
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