Nortey to present paid parental leave proposal

Today, Travis County Commissioner candidate James Nortey will reveal a proposal to provide paid leave for Travis County workers at the regular meeting of the Commissioners Court. According to a press release about the plan, Nortey will be joined by Lea Downey, who works for the county and hopes to start a family in the near future. In the press release, Nortey explained, “Travis County should be a leader on family-friendly policies that create economic security for working families and encourage all of our workplaces to better support parents regardless of gender or sexual orientation.” According to a document released by the campaign, Nortey will ask the county to evaluate the cost of up to six weeks of paid parental leave for all parents (paternal, maternal and adoptive) that could be taken anytime during the first year following the birth or adoption of a child. The city of Austin already has a plan like this in place and offers 30 days of paid leave to city employees to care for a newborn or newly adopted child.