We, the undersigned bereaved parents, alongside our extended families, friends, and New Jersey community members, call on the State Legislature to introduce and pass Scottie’s Law, dedicated  legislation granting parents up to 12 weeks of independent, job-protected leave following the loss of a specifically for the loss of a living, dependent child- without losing job security if medical caretaking leave was previously used.

Under the current structure of the New Jersey Family Leave Act, parents who exhaust their 12 weeks caring for a terminally or critically ill child are left with zero statutory job protection at the moment of their child’s death. Expecting a parent to return to work 7 days after losing a child—or forcing them to choose between their employment and their grief—is both economically disruptive and humanely unsustainable.

Current New Jersey proposals (A3505/S2978) offer only brief 7-day windows and fail to protect parents who have exhausted their New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA) time while caring for a critically ill child. We demand legislation that guarantees up to 12 weeks of independent, standalone job protection and Family Leave Insurance (FLI) access following the death of a child—without deducting time from prior caretaking leave.

While A3505/S2978 acknowledges bereavement as a valid leave category, its 7-day restriction fails families facing prolonged pediatric illnesses. Scottie’s Law will close this critical loophole by establishing an independent, 12-week entitlement that resets specifically for child loss, ensuring New Jersey leads the nation in compassionate workforce protections.

Each year in New Jersey, approximately 300 to 350 families face the catastrophic loss of a child between the ages of 1 and 17. Because pediatric death is statistically rare, granting 12 weeks of dedicated, independent leave creates virtually no financial strain on New Jersey's Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance fund—yet it provides a necessary safety net for the grieving parents who need it.