The Allegheny County Board of Health on Monday unanimously passed the revised paid parental leave legislation.
“I want to thank the Board of Health for taking this bold step towards a healthier Allegheny County for all. The science is clear: paid parental leave is a public health necessity for people who give birth, infants, and all new parents so they have the time to bond and heal in the critical earliest stages of a baby’s life,” County Executive Sara Innamorato said.
Under the proposal, covered employers with 15 or more eligible workers would be required to provide up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
The board first introduced an initial version of the policy in May. Recent revisions reduced the proposed leave length from 18 weeks to 12 weeks while adding specific qualification criteria for employees. To qualify, workers must be employed for at least six months and log more than 600 hours of service.
The proposed policy has sparked public debate across the county since its introduction. The Allegheny Conference on Community Development opposes the measure, calling its core structure problematic and stating that it places a financial and administrative burden on local employers.
Supporters of the policy argue that the requirement provides families with vital time needed to care for and bond with a newborn.
Following the Board of Health’s approval, the measure will advance to the Allegheny County Council for consideration later this fall.
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