California considers full paid family-leave program.(Chicago Tribune)

LOS ANGELES _ Despite qualifying for the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Amy Tucker said she made the painful decision earlier this year to stay on the job instead of taking unpaid time off to care for her terminally-ill father.

Then two months after he died, Tucker again found herself in the difficult position of opting to continue working rather than seek leave time to bond with her newly-adopted son. Even though the law requires the child-care agency for which she works to hold her position, Tucker said, the loss of wages over an extended period would have pushed her into financial ruin.

Now California legislators, addressing such personal dilemmas _ and what labor advocates call a glaring omission in the federal law implemented in the early days of the Clinton administration _ have approved a measure that would make California the first state to introduce a comprehensive paid family leave program.

Following passage of a bill by the state Senate, the California Assembly approved the measure late Tuesday. After going through a conference committee, the legislation will head to the …