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Senate committee advances bill extending paid maternity leave for state employees
Summary
The Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee favorably recommended third substitute HB 329, a bill that would extend paid postpartum leave for state employees from six to nine weeks, add adoptive and foster-leave categories, and explicitly protect pumping/breast milk in public. The bill was advanced unanimously to the Senate floor.
A Senate committee on Monday advanced a bill to expand paid maternity and related leave for Utah state employees.
Representative Faye, the bill sponsor, told the Senate Revenue and Taxation Standing Committee that HB 329 would extend postpartum leave for birthing mothers from six to nine weeks, add provisions for adoptive and foster parents and "fill an important legal gap" by protecting pumping breast milk in public. "Utah currently provides 6 weeks of paid leave for new mothers and the research is very clear that that is insufficient," the sponsor said.
Emily Bell McCormick of the Policy Project, who spoke in support, cited international comparisons and research linking paid leave to improved maternal and child health. "Paid maternity…
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