Maryland’s House Economic Matters Committee gave a favorable recommendation to a paid sick leave bill Thursday, the first step in getting the legislation passed this year.
The committee voted 14-9 to approve the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act, sponsored by Democrats Luke Clippinger, of Baltimore, and Dereck Davis, the committee chairman from Prince George’s County. The bill has been vigorously opposed by business advocacy groups who claim the mandate would have an overly burdensome affect on small businesses. Several lawmakers spoke up before the vote calling it “onerous” and “un-American.”
Last year the House passed a similar bill, but the Senate Finance Committee never took action. If the full House passes its bill, then it will get sent over the Senate. The bill is also cross-filed in both chambers, and a Senate committee could take up its own version of the bill next week.
The House bill, separate from the one proposed by Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, requires businesses with 15 or more employees to provide at least one hour of paid sick and safe leave for every 30 hours an employee works, or seven days a year. Businesses with fewer than 15 employees are required to provide unpaid days off.
Approximately 84,000 businesses in Maryland have fewer than 15 employees and would be required to provide unpaid sick and safe leave to employees. Some 20,000 businesses have at least 15 employees and would be required to provide paid sick and safe leave, according to an analysis of the bill by the Department of Legislative Services.