CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

99

Introduced by Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Johnson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Rivas, Michelle Rodriguez, Sanchez, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, and Zbur)

August 6, 2026

Relative to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Awareness Month.

WHEREAS, California’s State Disability Insurance (SDI) program, established in 1946 pursuant to Part 2 (commencing with Section 2601) of Division 1 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, and the Paid Family Leave (PFL) program, enacted in 2002 pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 3300) of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, were designed to provide wage replacement benefits for parents during the period surrounding childbirth; and

WHEREAS, Under current law, SDI provides up to four weeks of benefits before the expected date of delivery and up to six weeks after delivery for vaginal births and up to eight weeks for cesarean deliveries, while PFL provides up to eight weeks of partially paid leave; and

WHEREAS, According to the data from the State Department of Public Health, 48,000 to 54,000 infants, inclusive, representing approximately 11 to 13 percent, inclusive, of all live births in California, require admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) annually; and

WHEREAS, According to the data from the State Department of Public Health, approximately 17,500 to 22,500, inclusive, of those infants experience prolonged NICU stays exceeding two weeks in duration; and

WHEREAS, Premature birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation, accounts for approximately 9 percent of all births in California and is the leading cause of infant mortality and long-term developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Families with infants receiving care in NICUs often face significant emotional, physical, logistical, and financial challenges while navigating extended hospital stays and complex medical circumstances; and

WHEREAS, Research in child development and maternal-infant attachment demonstrates that the bonding period immediately following an infant’s discharge from medical care is critical for establishing and promoting long-term emotional and psychological well-being for both infant and parent; and

WHEREAS, Research in maternal bonding demonstrates that longer bonding times reduce maternal postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders, thereby generating positive health outcomes for both mothers and infants; and

WHEREAS, Healthcare professionals, caregivers, and support networks play a critical role in supporting medically fragile newborns and their families throughout treatment and recovery; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly hereby declares the month of September 2026 as NICU Awareness Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Assembly recognizes the challenges faced by families whose newborns require care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and acknowledges the resilience demonstrated by those families during periods of hospitalization and recovery; and be it further

Resolved, That the Assembly recognizes the importance of family support, parental involvement, and opportunities for bonding during and following a newborn’s hospitalization; and be it further

Resolved, That the Assembly is committed to supporting parents of newborns that have extended Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stays and encourages individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout the state to support efforts to ensure parents have adequate time to bond with their child and care for their newborns in the home environment; and be it further

Resolved, That the Assembly recognizes that such a commitment would serve approximately 17,500 to 22,500 California families annually, reduce economic hardship and health disparities among low-income and middle-income families, support maternal and infant health outcomes, promote workforce participation and economic security for working mothers, and affirm California’s longstanding commitment to family-centered policies and the well-being of its most vulnerable residents; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Governor, the Director of Employment Development, and the author for appropriate distribution.