 Maine's new paid family and medical leave program is a small step closer to rollout. The State Department of Labor closed comments on the proposed rules for the program yesterday. It will allow many workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave each year to care for a sick family member or bond with a newborn, adopted, or foster child. Program Director Luke Monahan says employers and their workers will have to pay into the system starting in January, though benefits won't begin until almost two years from now.