Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML): What is it and Why Does Maine Need It?

What You Should Know About the Paid Family and Medical Leave Proposal in Maine

UPDATE: On June 21st, the Maine Senate voted to pass LD 1964! On June 22nd, the Maine House of Representatives also voted in favor of the measure. The bill has a few steps to go before heading to the Governor for her signature.

Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) allows for prolonged absences from work that can be used in a variety of situations, including caring for a loved one with a serious illness. PFML ensures workers can balance their caregiving and work responsibilities, it keeps them in the workforce and protects their financial security. Right now, we are asking Governor Mills to support PFML. Will you join us by clicking here and sending her a message today?

You can also help by urging your Representatives to support and pass SP 800! You can use our online form here to send an email message

This legislative session our lawmakers are considering a proposal that will establish a Paid Family and Medical Leave Program in Maine. The bill is LD 1964/SP 800, An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Commission to Develop a Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program. AARP Maine is urging state lawmakers to support PFML because caring for a loved one shouldn’t mean losing pay—or even one’s job. The Maine House and Senate have voted in support of PFML, but there are still a few steps to go before the bill can be sent to the Governor's desk.

PFML comes after 3 years of bipartisan listening, learning and actuary information. It has been created for Mainers by Mainers. You can access our one-page flyer about PFML here: PFML FLYER 2023.pdf

This is an important proposal, and we understand Mainers have questions. To try to help Mainers understand where this policy currently stands in Augusta and what it could mean, we have gathered information here for you. AARP strongly supports policy that will establish Paid Family and Medical Leave in Maine because it will support Maine’s 166,000 unpaid family caregivers, especially those who work.

What is Paid Family and Medical Leave?
Paid Family and Medical Leave allows workers to take an extended period of time off. This would give workers the flexibility and security to deal with life’s most disruptive events without risking their financial stability, employment, or health insurance.

What kind of event would qualify someone for leave?
Paid family and medical leave is meant to help us care for our own health and manage family caregiving responsibilities when those close to us need our support. Here are some examples of paid family and medical leave. You may know some, and some may be new:

• Helping a loved one struggling with a chronic condition like dementia
• Assisting a spouse or parent as they age at home
• Birth, adoption, or fostering a child (usually called maternity/paternity leave)
• Recovery from surgery, an accident, or other health condition
• Dealing with the death or serious health condition of a family member in the military

How does this support Family Caregivers?
Taking your aging mother to the doctor shouldn’t cost you your paycheck or even your job.  But that’s the sword hanging over the heads of many of Maine’s 166,000 unpaid family caregivers. Maine’s family caregivers provide critical support and often do so while juggling a full or part-time job. The stress of balancing both can be daunting. Lack of workplace support can even result in individuals quitting their jobs or experiencing negative health outcomes. Paid Family and Medical Leave can support these caregivers by allowing them the time away from work to care for a loved one without sacrificing their financial security.

What can I do?
Tell Governor Mills and your elected officials to support and pass PFML for Maine!

Right now, we are asking Governor Mills to support PFML. Will you join us by clicking here and sending her a message today?

You can also help by urging your Representatives to support and pass SP 800! You can use our online form here to send an email message

Please also call your elected officials with the phone numbers below!

To reach Governor Mills: 207-287-3531

To reach your Representative: 1-800-423-2900

To reach your Senator: 1-800-423-6900

Have other questions? Feel free to email us at me@aarp.org

We must pass PFML because caring for a loved one shouldn’t mean losing pay—or even one’s job. Now is the time to pass paid family and medical leave - because Maine can’t wait.