Gov. Larry Hogan plans to introduce two bills on the first day of the upcoming General Assembly related to paid sick leave as he tries once again to craft a compromise with Democratic lawmakers.
Hogan’s proposal includes phasing in implementation of paid sick leave over three years so that all business with at least 25 employees provide the benefit by 2020. A second bill provides $100 million over five years in tax credits to businesses with fewer than 50 employees that offer paid leave benefits to their employees. Hogan, a Republican, vetoed a bill passed by Democrats during the 2017 legislative session.
Under Hogan’s Paid Leave Compromise Act of 2018, businesses with 50 or more employees would have to provide five day of paid sick leave, or one hour for every 30 hours worked. Businesses with 40 or more employees would have until 2019 to provide the benefits and the law would apply to all companies with at least 25 employees in 2020. Hogan said his administration used the Democrats’ law as a starting point.
The Maryland Healthy Working Families Act passed by Democrats would have required employers with 15 or more employees to provide up to five days of paid sick leave. Businesses with fewer than 15 employees have to provide five unpaid sick days.