Res 0597-2026

Res. No. 597 Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation establishing dedicated neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) leave By Council Members Morano, Hudson, Cabán, Louis, Williams, Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Hankerson and Paladino Whereas, Newborn babies who need intensive medical care are often put in a special area of the hospital called the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); and Whereas, According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the percentage of infants admitted to a NICU in the United States rose by 13 percent from 2016 to 2023; and Whereas, Research published in Early Human Development found that parental involvement in the NICU has a strong positive relationship to babies’ development; and Whereas, New York State’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) policy provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job-protected, paid time off to bond with a new child; and Whereas, Working parents with a baby in the NICU can easily use all or most of their PFL leave while their infant is in the hospital, leaving them to choose between spending time with their child in the NICU and bonding at home once their baby is discharged, or risking losing their employment; according to A Better Balance; and Whereas, The Associated Press reports that companies are beginning to adopt dedicated NICU leave policies, including companies based in New York City such as Morgan Stanley and Pinterest; and Whereas, Lawmakers across the country are working on legislation to establish dedicated NICU leave to supplement existing leave policies; and Whereas, Colorado’s Neonatal Care Leave Law took effect January 1, 2026, guaranteeing parents whose infants enter a NICU up to 12 weeks of paid leave while their newborn receives intensive care, in addition to their parental bonding leave; and Whereas, On June 1, 2026, the Illinois Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act took effect, requiring Illinois employers with 16 or more employees to provide unpaid, job-protected leave to employees whose child is admitted to a NICU, in addition to any leave they are otherwise entitled to; and Whereas, Supplemental NICU leave can increase parental presence for newborns with intensive care needs and promote both parental and infant wellbeing; now, therefore, be it, Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation establishing dedicated neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) leave. NEM LS 24372 7/8/26