Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) today announced he is cosponsoring Senate Bill 2175, which includes stillbirth as a qualifying event for paid family leave in New York. A stillbirth is the loss of a pregnancy at or after 20 weeks and requires medical treatment similar to a live birth. At a press conference today, lawmakers said 1,500 pregnancies result in stillbirths per year in New York state. Under current New York law, families are not entitled to paid leave following a stillbirth.

“Stillbirths are traumatizing experiences for women and their families. New York state should support them by expanding the paid family leave program so women have the necessary time to recover and heal," said Slater. "I am proud to join this bipartisan group of lawmakers to fight for women across New York State who have to cope with these heart-wrenching circumstances by passing common-sense, humane and compassionate legislation.”