AB 2039 – Link to Testimony

Today on the internet radio program, “Your Caregiving Journey, Table Talk,” I talked with Denise Brown about testifying in front of the California Senate Appropriations Committee, my new shoes and getting through the fear to actually testify (notice I didn't say "overcome"). 

There was a request in the chat room of the program to see the link to the testimony and for the text of what I said so would like to share both.  Keep in mind, the committee wanted everyone to keep their testimony brief and to focus on the impact to business.  (You know how difficult it is for me to write something short!).   Here is the link to the session (AB 2039 is introduced around the 1:51 mark) and below is the text of what I said when I testified.  In the video, you'll see me still editing what I was going to say while the person next to me spoke in favor of the bill!

I think with each speaking experience, it will get easier and I'll do a little better each time.  I’m pretty sure I will still be terrified but at least now I know I can do it. 

And, yes, I do plan to buy a new pair of shoes for each experience! 

Here's the text of my testimony:

"Thank you, Madame Chair and Members of the Committee.  My name is Trish Hughes Kreis and I support of AB 2039.

I care for my disabled brother, Robert who is disabled due to lifelong intractable epilepsy and I also manage a local law firm.

Unfortunately, many family caregivers have to choose between their job and caring for their family member because they don’t have protected leave due to the limited definition of family.

As an employer, I’ve managed  leaves of absences and know that unpaid, protected leave has not placed an undue burden or cost to our business.

As an employer, I also see how we benefit from providing flexibility to our employees.  The loyalty an employee shows when we work with them during difficult family situations is invaluable.  This flexible approach has actually saved us money by reducing turnover costs.

I want to do what I can to ensure working caregivers are able to take protected leave to care for their family member who might not fit in the confines of the currently limited definition of family under CFRA but I also want to do what’s best for our business.

It is my belief AB 2039 would not be an undue burden on the employer and would greatly help family caregivers stay in the workforce which can only strengthen our struggling California economy.

Thanks very much to Assembly Member Swanson for this bill and thanks very much for your time."

I'd love to know what you would testify about if asked and what you would say. Please share your cause in the comment section.

AB 2039: Time for More Letters of Support

I think of AB 2039 as the Little Engine that Could (one of my most adored children’s book).   When my daughter was a baby, I came upon a plaque with the phrase “I think I can, I think I can” and hung it in her room. 

She still has that plaque.

I believe if we think we can do something we can do it!   

This bill to expand the definition of family under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) had slim hopes of making it out of various Assembly committees.

Each time, AB 2039 passed out of those committees and made it to the Assembly floor where, with fingers and toes crossed, we hoped it would pass. 

It did!  (I think I can, I think I can!)

This little engine made its way to Senate Committees.  It passed the Labor and Industrial Relations committee and was sent over to the Appropriations Committee which meets Monday, August 6.

If it passes out of that committee, it goes to the full Senate.

We’re getting so close! 

The Labor Project for Working Families has been working diligently through their California Work and Family Coalition Action Center to get this bill passed each step of the way.  They’ve asked me to testify in front of the Appropriations Committee on Monday to explain why expanding the definition of family is important to me as a caregiver to my brother.  Having the perspective of both caregiver and employer, I can see both sides of this issue.

The caregiver side of me wins out so I am strongly in favor of the expansion of the benefits this bill provides to family caregivers. 

Testifying in front of a Senate Committee?  Oh boy!

The painfully shy (yes, it was painful), 12-year-old girl in me turning bright red because she was terrified to read a report in the front of her classmates silently screamed “No!” when first asked. 

Then I realized this cannot be about my past fears terrors. 

This opportunity is about recognizing how families are changing and making sure the law keeps up with those changing dynamics.  This opportunity is about protecting caregivers who are doing a difficult job in caring for a family member which is made even more difficult if they are working a job.  It’s an opportunity to help those family caregivers not yet given protected leave because they don’t care for the current narrowly defined version of family.  

How narrow?  The current definition of family doesn’t include siblings, grandparents, parents-in-law or adult children who are not dependents. 

This is an opportunity I can't pass up just because I am terrified. It is too important. I’m setting aside my 12-year-old self and testifying on Monday.  (I think I can; I think I can!) 

In the meantime, please send letters of support to members of the Senate Appropriations committee at the following fax numbers.  (A sample letter can be found on this page).  

Chair Senator Christine Kehoe:  (916) 327-2188;
Vice-Chair Senator Mimi Walters: (916) 445-9754;
Senator Elaine Alquist:  (916) 324-0283;
Senator Bob Dutton: (916) 327-2272;
Senator Ted Lieu: (916) 323-6056;
Senator Curren Price:  (916) 445-8899;
Senator Daryl Steinberg:  (916) 323-2263

Let’s get this little engine over the hill – or at least to the full Senate floor!

I think I can; I think I can!

AB 2039: Expanding the Definition of Family Under CFRA -- Immediate Help Needed

For the last two years, Sandre Swanson (D-16) has introduced legislation to expand the definition of family under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA).

The definition of "family" under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) currently includes caring for parents, children under the age of 18 or a spouse.

Most people are surprised to learn that siblings, adult children and grandparents are excluded at this time.

Last year, I wrote a post about this issue but felt I wasn’t doing enough. The “advocacy” part of Robert’s Sister wanted to do more but the bill introduced last year died in the Assembly. I kept in contact with Jenya Cassidy, a California Policy Director for the Labor Project for Working Families, which is an organization steadfast in their support of the expanded definition of family as well as other issues affecting working families. 

I offered to assist in any way possible when AB 2039 was introduced this year.

Last week, Jenya and Netsy Firestein, Executive Director of the Labor Project for Working Families, asked me to join them in talking with a few staff members of the Assembly. AB 2039 was in the Appropriations Committee and they were doing what they could to get it passed out of the committee and on to the Assembly Floor.

I enthusiastically joined Jenya and Netsy and spoke to a staff member of the Speaker of the Assembly. It was exciting to be at the Capitol (although I think the hordes of elementary school children on their field trip to the Capitol may have slightly beat me in the excitement department).

We left information for another Assembly Member and crossed our fingers the bill would make it out of the “approps” committee. Ms. Firestein shared this was Assemblyman Swanson’s third time trying to get this bill passed and she optimistically enthused, “Third time may be the charm!”

Her optimism paid off – the bill made it out of committee and to the Assembly floor and is expected to come up for a vote by the entire State Assembly this week (as early as today!).

In order to continue this momentum and move this expanded definition of family further along the process, your help is immediately needed.

Join me in supporting AB 2039 by either calling or faxing your Assembly Member and asking for their vote in support of AB 2039. You can find your Assembly Member here. 

Thank you for your support of AB 2039 and, let’s hope, the third time really is the charm!