NASHVILLE - Following discussions with legislative leadership, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is backing off his groundbreaking executive order directing the state provide paid family and medical leave benefits to most executive branch workers. Instead, he will pursue the effort through legislation.
"After consultation with legislative leaders, we feel the best course of action is to implement paid family leave via legislation rather than executive order," Lee said in a statement late Wednesday afternoon. "We will propose legislation that is retroactive to March 1, 2020, so that no state employee is negatively impacted by this change in course."
An administration spokesman noted "this will help streamline the process of multiple state employee pools and make the benefit more permanent."
Lee, a Republican, announced a first-of-its-kind paid family and medical leave policy for about 34,000 of the estimated 38,000 employees in the executive branch. The 4,000 workers excluded were from independent executive branch agencies, but Lee tasked Rep. Esther Helton, R-East Ridge, and a Senate colleague with carrying legislation extending the policy to those agencies.
The governor's proposal would allow employees across most state departments to take time off in order to care for a new baby after birth or adoption as well as starting foster care or providing care to a sick family member.
Lee in January called it "an impactful investment in the state workforce and will allow us to continue to attract and retain the best workforce possible."
Saying that Tennessee "should be a leader," the governor said, "one of my most important jobs is to create an environment that allows those employees and their families to thrive."
But the initiative put pressure on the General Assembly, led by Lee's fellow Republicans, to do likewise. And also the state Comptroller, Secretary of State and state Treasurer, which are elected by lawmakers.
Some Republicans have privately grumbled about the move and questioned the costs.
The governor and administration officials said when making the announcement that it would cost little if anything due to employee turnover leaving money unspent.
Lee's action Wednesday came as the governor is already under fire from fellow Republicans as well as Democrats over a $2.53 million no-bid contract with a Florida tech company to run the governor's controversial Education Savings Account program which provides tax dollars to low-income parents for tuition and associated expenditures to send their children to private schools.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, the Republican Senate speaker, said in a statement that he thinks Lee "has made a wise decision. An executive order can be removed at will by any future governor."
With legislation, McNally said, "if any changes to the policy are made, they would be permanent. The legislative process will ensure the costs and benefits of this policy can be thoroughly vetted. I am glad the governor has chosen this course."
In a statement, Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton said "we agree with Governor Lee's decision to proceed on this issue through legislation. This path will allow everyone to have a voice in the process and make this policy permanent. We look forward to working with the Governor, Lt. Governor McNally, House and Senate members, and the bill's sponsors."
Immediate efforts to reach Randy Stamps, executive director of the Tennessee State Employees Association who had lauded the governor's move on family and medical leave, were unsuccessful late Wednesday afternoon.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow on Twitter @AndySher1.