Historic Win for Family Caregivers: Paid Family and Medical Leave Becomes Law

Historic Win for Family Caregivers: Paid Family and Medical Leave Becomes Law

In a historic win for Maine’s family caregivers, on July 11,2023 Governor Mills signed state budget legislation into law which includes language to establish a Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program in Maine! This is welcome news for Maine’s 166,000 family caregivers, many of whom work full- or part-time jobs while providing care. AARP Maine advocated for PFML to help alleviate family caregivers' financial, health and emotional stress and help retain participation in the labor force.

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.

Maine now joins 13 other states that have a Paid Family and Medical Leave program. The Maine law will allow workers to take 12 weeks of paid leave to:

· Care for their own health;

· Bond with the covered individual's child during the first 12 months after the child's birth, adoption, or placement for foster care;

· Care for a family member with a serious health condition;

· Care for covered military member/for Military Exigency; and

· Engage care for Safe Leave.

Please join us in thanking the bill sponsors Senator Mattie Daughtry and Representative Kristen Cloutier, and Governor Mills for championing Paid Family and Medical Leave for Maine.


The program covers workers who work for private and public employers. The program will be funded through a new payroll tax of up to 1%, which would be split between employers and employees. Workers can use PFML to care for someone not related by blood or marriage, such as a significant other, neighbor, or friend.

A message from our state director:

“In a momentous win for the state’s 166,000 family caregivers, the Maine Legislature enacted a Paid Family and Medical Leave program allowing workers to take time off to care for themselves, a family member or a loved one. This new law will support family caregivers who work to better balance their job and family responsibilities, reducing their stress and allowing them to better care for their loved ones. We thank bill sponsors Senator Daughtry and Representative Cloutier for championing this critical cause, and Governor Mills for signing the bill into law.”


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

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.

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

This is an important law, and we understand Mainers have questions. To try to help Mainers understand more about the law, we have gathered information here for you. AARP strongly supported the establishment of 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.

Please also call your elected officials to thank them for supporting PFML in Maine!

To reach Governor Mills: 207-287-3531

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

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

Thank the bill sponsors Senator Mattie Daughtry and Representative Kristen Cloutier, and Governor Mills for championing Paid Family and Medical Leave for Maine.

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