1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

As a member of the entertainment industry and, even more specifically, a person intending to build her family, I am writing to petition NYS to improve access to PFML for multiple W2 laborers and freelancers. As it stands, it is near impossible as a member of the television industry, due to the freelance nature of my job, to accrue enough hours on the same production to qualify for PFML should I choose to have children. I can maintain full-time employment by spending anywhere from a few days to a few months on a television show based here in NYS before being hired for the next one. However, the current NYSPFML program does not account for those of us who hold multiple jobs throughout the year. And thus, disenfranchises the majority of us from ever receiving those benefits. I urge you to revisit, reconsider, and restructure what constitutes eligibility for NYS PFML so that the system no longer prevents the laborers from one of NYS’ largest industries, and one of its larger economic contributors, from being denied access to appropriate leave to begin growing and continuing to care for our families. If I’m employed in NYS for the entirety of the year, pay taxes, and contribute to the PFML fund I should, in turn, be able to benefit from my labor.