Governor Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill that would have allowed workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave after the death of a family member.

The bill expanding the state’s paid family leave law was opposed by the Business Council and other business groups. The council said it would have been too burdensome for employers, especially small businesses.

The legislation was sponsored by Republican Sen. Rich Funke and former Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle, who’s now a congressman. Funke had a son who died in 2001 and Morelle lost a daughter to cancer in 2017.

The bill’s memo notes that employers provide an average of four days of bereavement leave for the death of a spouse or child.

Democrat Cuomo vetoed the bill Friday.

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy issued the following statement:

“Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce thanks Governor Cuomo for his understanding of the burdens that adding bereavement leave to the paid family leave law would place upon business and for his leadership in vetoing the bill. Rochester Chamber respects the bill’s sponsors and their intent to ensure families have time to properly mourn the loss of loved ones. However, members have shared with us that the benefits provided by the bereavement leave bill would have posed undue difficulties on business in both cost and staff productivity. Governor Cuomo heard this from Rochester Chamber members as well as businesses across the state and took the appropriate action.”