Pennsylvania lawmaker proposes paid leave for natural disaster victims

(WHTM)– A Pennsylvania lawmaker is proposing legislation that would require employers to provide guaranteed paid leave to employees affected by climate-related disasters.

The Climate Emergency Paid Leave Act, proposed by State Rep. Ben Waxman (D-182), aims to provide Pennsylvanians who are directly impacted by a climate-related disaster with a minimum amount of paid leave.

This comes as a response to the rise in climate-related emergencies in Pennsylvania, according to the memo.

Climate-related disasters have swept across parts of the country since the start of 2025.

Pennsylvania alone has experienced its fair share of disasters, including recent flooding across multiple Central Pennsylvania communities, extreme heat, and a large fire at Michaux State Forest in Cumberland County.

Many Pennsylvanians reside in areas impacted by natural disasters, and this bill aims to enable them to better protect their families during a disaster, while not having to worry about getting a paycheck.

The memo says that under the bill, all employees will be eligible if they cannot work because of personal injury, illness, unsafe working conditions, or care obligations resulting from a climate-related emergency.

Additionally, leave would be available immediately when a qualifying emergency is declared. Employers would be reimbursed for part of the cost through a Climate Emergency Paid Leave Fund, which state appropriations and federal disaster aid would support.

According to the memo, a qualifying emergency would include extreme weather, natural disasters linked to climate change, and any incident within a federally or state-declared disaster area.

This legislation has not yet been submitted for introduction.

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