WASHINGTON –Legislation signed today by Delaware Governor John Carney protects workers’ income when they take time to care for themselves or a family member. Sponsored by Senator Sarah McBride, the new program provides up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after the birth of a child and 6 weeks of paid leave for family caregiving.

Employers can participate by contributing to the state program via a payroll tax or by offering paid leave as an employee benefit through an insurance company.

“No one should have to worry about losing a paycheck if they are sick or need to care for a family member,” said American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) President and CEO Susan Neely. “Whether welcoming a new child, recovering from an injury, or managing illness, this new law will help make certain Delaware families are protected from economic loss when a wage earner takes time off from work to care for themselves or a loved one.”

Today’s action in Delaware follows the recent enactment of a first-of-its kind bill in Virginia that would make family leave plans a type of insurance employers can voluntarily purchase for their employees. Both laws are examples of how public-private partnerships can leverage the experience of the private insurance market to provide workers with paid family and medical leave solutions.

“Delaware lawmakers were smart to build upon the existing private sector to provide workers with paid family and medical leave,” Neely said. “By building on and expanding the existing employer-based system, insurers, employers, and government can expand access to these solutions beyond the nearly 62 million Americans who already benefit from employer-based paid leave.”

The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) is the leading trade association driving public policy and advocacy on behalf of the life insurance industry. 90 million American families rely on the life insurance industry for financial protection and retirement security. ACLI’s member companies are dedicated to protecting consumers’ financial wellbeing through life insurance, annuities, retirement plans, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, reinsurance, and dental, vision and other supplemental benefits. ACLI’s 280 member companies represent 94 percent of industry assets in the United States.