Updates on 2021 General Assembly Session

The 2021 Virginia General Assembly Session Begins this Week

The 2021 General Assembly Session begins this week on Wednesday, January 13th. This year's "short session" is scheduled to last only 30 days, but recent reports suggest that Governor Northam will extend the session to 45 days. Due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, much of the work during the session will be done virtually. Here are some updates on the legislative priorities VBCF is monitoring.

1) Paid Family and Medical Leave

VBCF has joined the Campaign for a Family Friendly Virginia to help advocate for paid family and medical leave in Virginia so that workers do not have to struggle with financial stability when receiving treatment for cancer or other serious illnesses. Currently, 55% of Virginia workers are not eligible or cannot afford to take even unpaid leave.

Legislation will be introduced this session by Delegate Ayala and Senator Boysko that would establish a paid family and medical leave insurance program in the Commonwealth, ensuring covered employees can take at least 12 weeks of paid time away from work when they need it to take care of themselves or a loved one with a serious illness or when welcoming a new child.

Action Items:

Call or email your Delegate and Senator and tell them that Virginia's workers need access to paid family and medical leave. Find contact information for your Delegate and Senator

Share your story: We are interested in gathering personal stories to share with legislators as we advocate on this issue. Did you have paid leave from work when you were going through breast cancer treatment? Would you be willing to share why it was so important for you? Or, did you struggle with balancing unpaid leave from work with your cancer treatment? Please contact me, Kirsta Millar (kirsta@vbcf.org), if you are willing to share your experiences.

Learn more:

Fact Sheet on Paid Family and Medical Leave

Family Friendly Economy Webinar Series Recordings.

Session 1 - Policy Discussion with Shilpa Phadke of the Center for American Progress, Freddy Mejia of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, and CFFE-VA's Tara Gibson

Session 2 - Community Leaders Panel with Roanoke-area small business owner Mike Hamlar, Arlington County Board Member Katie Cristol, and Richmond-based LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce President Natasha Crosby

Session 3 - 2021 General Assembly Session preview with Senator Jennifer Boysko, Delegate Hala Ayala, and CFFE-VA Community Organizer Monica Hutchinson

2) Paid Sick Leave - Approximately 1.2 million workers in Virginia have no paid sick days or any paid time off. VBCF believes workers should not have to choose between getting paid or taking the time off to get needed medical care, including screening and treatment for breast cancer.

A paid sick leave bill will be introduced by Delegate Guzman for the 2021 session which would cover full-time, essential workers only. The bill would create a sick-leave standard of up to 5 days paid time off for this group of workers only. VBCF is supportive of this bill, and although we are disappointed that it is not more comprehensive, it's a good first step. Click here for a summary of the January 5, 2021 press conference about paid sick leave.

Please get in touch if you have any questions. We will continue to provide information on how you can participate in virtual advocacy opportunities as they arise throughout the 2021 General Assembly Session. Kirsta Millar, Policy and Fund Development, kirsta@vbcf.org.

Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation

www.vbcf.org | 1-800-345-8223