By BILL WADT
Los Alamos

We are so fortunate to have Christine Chandler represent us in the NM House. Her combination of compassionate, incisive thinking with extensive legal knowledge and experience as a County Councilor and State Representative makes her an ideal chair of the House Judiciary Committee as they consider legislation to improve public safety. 

Chris looks at the big picture and long-term consequences of legislation. Research has repeatedly shown that investment in early childhood and enabling positive social-emotional relationships between primary caregivers and children has very positive long-term benefits in terms of productive, healthier citizens and safer communities.

That is why Chris is sponsoring HB11, the Paid Family Medical Leave Act. It is carefully crafted learning from similar mandatory programs in 12 states, including Colorado. Benefits from similar programs around the world include increased workforce participation and lower employee turnover, especially among women, increased employee productivity, better child development, reduced stress levels, better maternal health and greater father involvement for programs that provide 12 weeks or more of annual leave and access to all employees. 

The proposed program in NM would start at 9 weeks in 2028-2029 and assuming solvency extend to 12 weeks per year with employees receiving at least the minimum wage plus 67% of wages above the minimum. The benefits would flow from a state fund generated by employees, beginning in 2027, contributing 0.5% of annual earnings with employers adding 0.4% up to the Social Security payroll tax cutoff.  In 2030, assuming the state fund is solvent, actuaries would calculate the premiums with employees covering 55% and employers 45%. The bill places tight limits of 0.1% of wages on changes to premiums over time.’

Many businesses and business organizations are naturally concerned about financial and administrative impacts.  Results from well designed and run programs indicate significant economic returns on the investments in employees and their families. So, the view definitely appears to be worth the climb.

Based on my personal experience and observations, and as an initial donor to the Early Childhood Education Endowment at the LANL Foundation, I support HB11 and commend Chris for developing and sponsoring it. Increasing our investment in early childhood will yield the best return in human and economic capital, which New Mexico sorely needs.