New Jersey Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto has proposed a sweeping expansion of the state's 8-year-old paid family leave program.

Prieto on Monday introduced a bill, A-4927, which he said would increase leave times, provide greater compensation to those taking leave, cover more family members, provide greater job protections, and make more people aware of the program.

The current law, enacted in 2009, provides six weeks off at two-thirds pay, but caps payments at an amount set annually. In 2016, the weekly benefit is limited to $633, according to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.