A bipartisan duo in the Pennsylvania Senate on Feb. 19 introduced a bill to substantially extend family medical leave provisions.

Senate Bill 140, primarily sponsored by Sen. Tom Killion, R-Delaware, with backing from Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-Chester, would expand family medical leave rights to siblings, grandparents and grandchildren for the first time ever in the state.

Under the bill, up to six weeks of protected, unpaid leave would be provided to an employee in order to care for a terminally ill sibling, grandparent or grandchild. This would only apply if the ill relative does not have a living spouse, child over the age of 17 or parent under the age of 65 to care for them.

“We must ensure that siblings, grandparents and grandchildren can take time to care for loved ones if no one else is able to do so,” Killion said in a statement. “This kind of family care is the hallmark of any compassionate society and is long overdue in our state.”

Dinniman said: “Pennsylvanians shouldn't be forced to choose between their jobs and their families when it comes to caring for a terminally ill sibling, grandparent, or grandchild.”

The measure has been referred to the Senate Committee on Labor and Industry.