On Sunday, October 11, the Governor vetoed SB 406, which would have expanded the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). SB 406 would have allowed an employee to use CFRA leave to care for a sibling, grandparent, grandchild, domestic partner, or parent-in-law with a serious health condition. The current law does not include these family members. SB 406 would also allow parents working for the same employer to each take 12 weeks of leave for the birth of a child. The CFRA only allows parents to take a combined 12 week leave.
The Governor's veto message stated that he was open to allowing workers to take leave for additional family members. The bill failed, however, because it could require employers to provide up to 24 weeks on family leave in a 12 month period. Had SB 406 limited the leave period to a total of 12 weeks under both the CFRA and FMLA, it is likely it would have passed.
