STATEMENT OF AARP CALIFORNIA STATE DIRECTOR NANCY MCPHERSON ON THE EXTENSION ON EMERGENCY PAID SICK LEAVE

On behalf of AARP’s 3.3 million California members, I thank Governor Newsom for signing into law SB 95, which establishes emergency paid sick leave for California workers during the COVID-19 pandemic – retroactive to January 1, 2021 and through September, 2021. California is now only the fourth state to have extended paid sick leave during the pandemic. I also wish to thank Senator Skinner, Assemblymember Ting, Assemblymember Gonzalez, Assemblymember Carillo, and all who voted in favor of SB 95.

During a public health emergency like the current pandemic, it is critical to the wellbeing of families that working family members are able to take paid sick leave to care for themselves or an ill loved one. Now, more Californians will have peace of mind knowing that they need not choose between their job and their health or the health of their loved ones.

###