FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mar. 24, 2023
Contact: Mackenzie Kwok (415-336-0725 or mackenzie@caminopr.com)

9to5 Georgia and the Georgia Coalition for Paid Leave Applaud Passage of SB61

Paid leave benefits all working families in Georgia 

ATLANTA — This March, SB61 passed in the Georgia State House with strong bipartisan support and awaits Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature, upon which the Georgia Family Care Act will become permanent law. 

“The Georgia Family Care Act is pro-family and pro-business and helps ensure that Georgia remains the number one state for business and raising a family,” the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Brian Strickland said. 

The passage repeals the sunset provision on family sick leave — allowing workers in Georgia to use up to five days of their accrued paid sick days per year to care for family members. 

“I was proud to see the sunset on this important piece of legislation finally come to an end,” bill sponsor Sen. Brian Strickland said. 

“When I ran for office, I committed myself to fighting for Georgia’s families. I was very excited to be a part of ending the sunset clause of the Family Care Act this year,” Rep. Lauren Daniel said who carried the bill in the House. “The positive impact of this legislation and how it benefits families all over the state is something we can all be excited about. I was happy to see it passed out of both chambers!”

9to5 Georgia Policy and Training Manager Allison Glass also praised the passage of the legislation into law.

“Making the Family Care Act a permanent law means workers can care for their families and loved ones without risking their economic stability,” said Glass. “We are pleased by the near-unanimous bipartisan support among Georgians for paid leave, and we thank Senator Strickland for his leadership and support of this bill. We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers to support the real-life needs of Georgia’s families, including comprehensive paid family and medical leave.” 

While the removal of the sunset clause enables employees to use earned paid sick days to care for their families, advocates call for greater expansion of comprehensive paid leave for all workers in Georgia. 

“Making the Family Care Act a permanent law is a strong step toward ensuring those in the small business ecosystem can access paid leave,” said Rachel Shanklin, Georgia director of Small Business Majority. “Georgia legislators should now build upon this progress by passing a state-run paid family and medical leave insurance program and making it easier and more cost-effective for small businesses to access paid leave.”

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9to5, National Association of Working Women is a national grassroots organization on the frontlines working for economic security for all women — particularly women of color. The organization is a national network of advocates with offices in Colorado, Georgia and Wisconsin.

Georgia Coalition for Paid Leave organizational members: 9to5 Georgia, YWCA of Greater Atlanta, Amplify Georgia, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, Family Values at Work, Poder Latinx, A Better Balance, GEEARS, Feminist Women’s Health Center, Small Business Majority, On the Rise, Inc., Georgia Association of Educators, Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, National

Domestic Workers Alliance- Georgia Chapter, Care in Action, URGE-Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, American Medical Women’s Association GA Branch, Caring Across Generations, Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy-Georgia, March of Dimes, American Heart Association