Albany, NY - Today, Assemblyman Michael Novakhov (R-Brooklyn) joined his colleagues in the state Legislature to call for the passage of Senate Bill S2175, which would add stillbirth as a qualifying event for Paid Family Leave in New York.

“I was extremely proud to join this press conference, and to support this landmark bill. I want to thank the sponsor of this legislation for addressing such an important issue. For any woman a stillbirth is an extremely emotional event. We should not force women to go back to work while still healing from that trauma. This bill would do the correct and compassionate thing, which is to allow women time to heal after a stillbirth,” Novakhov said.

Novakhov said this bill is not political and he hopes it will receive bi-partisan support. He also stressed that women in New York deserve the respect of the state government.

“It is actually quite tragic that women currently do not receive any paid leave in this situation. This is not a political issue, any woman can have a stillborn pregnancy, it doesn't matter what political party. In fact, every year around 1,500 women in New York will experience a stillbirth. That is why I hope this receives broad support and is swiftly passed into law,” Novakhov concluded.