Owings Mills Woman Pushes For Family Leave Insurance

ANNAPOLIS, MD — An Owings Mills woman profiled in a recent New York Times article about the sandwich generation is advocating for a change in Maryland law. The issue is family leave.

Tanya Brice, 43, was featured in an article about the unique challenges faced by a group called the "sandwich generation." About 12 percent of parents fit the criteria, which entails taking care of one's own children under age 18 and aging parents at the same time, according to researchers.

Brice, who lives in Owings Mills, cared for her mother as well as her three children until her mom died in November, The New York Times reported. Her mother reportedly moved in with her in 2015.

"To make sure that she was safe meant that I had to take time off," Brice said, as reported by Maryland Matters. She reported she spent time finding home health care for her mother and tending to her health issues but "I needed that paycheck," and sometimes the family had to do without so their bills could be paid.

Brice testified in Annapolis Monday before the House Economic Matters Committee in support of the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program bill.

The proposed law would require that employers establish a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program starting Jan. 1, 2021, to provide temporary benefits to certain employees taking leave as of July 1, 2022.

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce was among those opposed to the legislation, according to Maryland Matters, which said the chamber proposed amendments not reflected in the bill.