Advocates for paid family leave in Michigan are urging lawmakers to pass the Michigan Family Leave Optimal Coverage bill, or MI-FLOC, before the 2024 legislative session ends.

Introduced last year, MI-FLOC aims to create a 15 week paid family and medical leave program.

Danielle Atkinson is the national director for Mothering Justice — a non-profit seeking to empower mothers of color to drive family policy change. At a news conference hosted by the Michigan League for Public Policy, Atkinson outlined key points her group has presented to lawmakers.

“This is the issue that we see again and again presented by new moms, people who are cancer survivors and people who are saying goodbye at the end of life to their loved ones, that they can’t afford it,” Atkinson said. “They’re making choices between loving and making a living.”

Thirteen states and Washington, D.C. have already passed paid leave policies.

According to a report from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, 71% of Michiganders are in favor of the bill, while 20% say they’re not on board. This year’s legislative session ends December 19. The department also says 71% of Michiganders are in favor of the bill, while 20% say they’re not on board.

This year’s legislative session ends December 19.