ALBANY - New Yorkers could have expanded access to bereavement leave starting in 2020.

The state Legislature voted last week to expand the paid family leave requirements in New York to include time off following the death of a family member. If signed into law, the bill would initially allow eligible New Yorkers up to 10 weeks off, which is a major expansion from the four days off that most employees currently receive from their employers, according to a 2018 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management.

The bill was championed by two state Rochester-area legislators who dealt with the death of a child. The daughter of Assemblyman Joe Morelle, a Democrat, died of cancer last summer and the son of Sen. Rich Funke, a Republican, died in 2001.

During the discussion of the bill in the Senate, Funke revealed that he immediately went back to his job as a local news anchor after the death of his son.

"I tried to be strong for my family at the time, and that's how I thought I was going to get through this. About a month later, I was crushed by the emotion of it all," he said. "This amendment is going to give people the time and flexibility they need to grieve."

Bereavement leave could be used for the death of a spouse, domestic partner, child, stepchild, parent, parent-in-law, stepparent, grandparent or grandchild. It would not apply to a sibling.

During the Assembly's debate on the issue, Morelle indicated it could also be used in the event of a stillbirth if a death certificate was issued.

If paid family leave were used to care for a sick family member any remaining time could be used for bereavement leave if that person died.

The expansion is opposed by the Business Council of New York, which is urging Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to veto the bill.

The council said the legislation was flawed as written, citing language that allowed bereavement leave to be taken anytime after the death of a family member, as opposed to in the immediate aftermath. It also said that employers wouldn't be able to plan ahead for the absence of an employee and believed it would be an "immense" challenge for small businesses.

"We are particularly concerned that the Legislature is proposing a dramatic expansion of the Paid Family Leave act that has only been in effect for just over five months," the Business Council wrote in a legislative memorandum. "Employees, the state, insurers and employers are still working to understand and implement the current law.

Starting this January, New Yorkers were able to take up to eight weeks off at half their average weekly wages to bond with a child, care for a family member or assist loved ones when a family member is sent abroad for military service. Time off and the benefits paid while on leave are scheduled to increase until 2021, when employees will have up to 12 weeks off at two-thirds their weekly wages. Any benefits would be capped at a percentage of the statewide average weekly wage.

The program is funded by a 0.126 percent payroll deduction from an employee's weekly wages.

The delay in implementing the bereavement leave benefit, according to Morelle, is to allow time for the state Department of Financial Services to calculate the cost of expanding the paid family leave program. He anticipated the program would remain affordable, despite the additional coverage costs.

Full-time employees are eligible to take time off under the program after 26 consecutive weeks with their employer and part-time employees qualify after 175 days.

The governor's office said the legislation will be reviewed by its counsel's office.

David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87