South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed a new state employee paid family leave benefit into law last week.
S. 11 will provide state employees with paid family leave for the birth of a child, adoption of a child or for fostering a child. The law will go into effect on October 1, 2022 and will provide six weeks of paid leave for an employee who gives birth or is a primary caregiver of a child, and two weeks for an employee who does not give birth or is not the primary caregiver but is a new parent. Additionally, the law provides up to two weeks of leave for employees who foster a child.
Laws like South Carolina’s are a step in the right direction and may help move states to more substantial and inclusive state paid family and medical leave (PFML) programs over time. To learn more about PFML and how states are implementing this important policy, read the new ZERO TO THREE brief, Paid Family Medical Leave in States: Progress and Considerations.
