Overview
- The Board of Health moved the proposal into a 30-day public comment period that is currently open and a public hearing drew more than 80 registered speakers with most voicing support.
- Under the proposal employees would become eligible after 30 days on the job and receive 18 weeks of full pay for birth, adoption, or legal permanent placement within a child’s first year.
- If the Board of Health approves the measure it could be voted on as soon as July and an affirmative recommendation would send the policy to the Allegheny County Council for final action.
- Supporters including County Executive Sara Innamorato argue the policy is urgently needed given stalled state and federal action, while small-business owners such as Beth Rupert warn it could create severe financial and staffing strain.
- Passage would make Allegheny the first Pennsylvania county to adopt paid parental leave and key questions remain about who pays, which employers might be exempt, and how the county would enforce and run the program.