Friends:

As of August, 2000, the US Federal Government, US Dept. of Labor is allowing
states to experiment with using unemployment compensation to help pay for
time off from work re: birth or adoption.
Now it is up to states (through their legislatures) to pass laws allowing
this kind of expenditure.  I have not read the entire document (it is 36
pages), but it does include model language for state legislation.  The
summary follows my signature.

This is pertinent to breastfeeding as:
- it will allow families to get some money during maternity leave time to
help defray expenses and potentially allow the mom to stay home with baby
longer than previously;
- it supports provisions for paid leave within the ILO's new Maternity
Protection Convention (#183), which the US signed on to but which still
needs to be ratified by the US Senate.

If you'd like to see it on the Web:
1) go to <http://www.access.gpo.gov> and select "GPO Access"
2) Select "Federal Register" under the Quick Links.
3) Search Federal Register, 2000, final Rules and Regluations, for search
term "Birth and Adoption Unemployment Compensation"
4) Select 13jn00 (June 13, 2000) Fed Register entry which has the final
rule.  You can see a summary (the basic info below), the on-line version
(HTML) or the PDF of the actual printed Federal Register.

So, find out if this effort is being considered for legislation in your own
state and let us know.  The more states that adopt this rule, the more
likely the US is to ratify ILO MPC #183.

Good Luck!

--Doraine Bailey
Lexington, KY, USA



Birth and Adoption Unemployment Compensation

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department) is issuing this Final
Rule to create an opportunity for State agencies that administer the
Unemployment Compensation (UC) program to provide partial wage
replacement, on a voluntary, experimental basis, to parents who take
approved leave or who otherwise leave employment following the birth or
placement for adoption of a child. This regulation permits interested
States to experiment with methods for allowing the use of the UC
program for this purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This Final Rule is effective August 14, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerard Hildebrand, Office of Workforce
Security, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department
of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room S-4231, Washington, DC
20210. Telephone: (202) 219-5200 ext. 391 (this is not a toll-free
number); facsimile: (202) 219-8506; e-mail: [log in to unmask]

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