Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council President Nury Martinez, 6th District, recently announced the launch of the Paid Parental Time pilot program for city employees. Approved by the City Council, the initiative provides six weeks of fully paid time off for new parents, supporting thousands of municipal workers who are ineligible for employee parental benefits from the state.

Martinez and Councilman Paul Krekorian, 2nd District, first introduced the motion calling for paid parental leave for city employees in 2015. The mayor’s office advanced the proposal further, putting forth a plan to provide six weeks of fully paid parental leave for employees unable to work due to pregnancy or following the birth, adoption or long-term foster care placement of a child.