State House Approves “Women’s Economic Security Act”

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Despite pleas from business to slow down, the Minnesota House has adopted legislation giving new parents access to longer leave time and require assurances from state vendors that they have similar pay by gender.

The House approved the bill 104 to 24 on Wednesday. Signoff by the Senate would send it to Gov. Mark Dayton.

Republicans urged the House to reopen negotiations to clear up what they saw as ambiguities. Many voted for the bill in the end anyway.

A central element is to let employees — men or women — take 12 weeks instead of the current six for pregnancy and parenting leave in conjunction with a child's birth or adoption. It would put Minnesota among a small set of states allowing leave of three months or more.