Legislature plans to expand paid sick leave
THE LEADERS OF the Democratic-led Senate and House have reached an agreement on a bill that would provide major financial relief to businesses for the next two years, while also giving workers more generous sick leave and providing tax relief to some unemployed individuals.
“The Senate and House have reached agreement on a bill to help workers and employers jumpstart our nascent recovery as we begin to slowly emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senate President Karen Spilka, House Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate Ways and Means chair Michael Rodrigues, and House Ways and Means chair Aaron Michlewitz in a joint statement. “This agreement strikes a balance to ensure that businesses can continue to move forward while protecting those working hard to keep the economy going.”
The bill, which lawmakers pledged to pass “expeditiously,” would constitute a significant COVID relief package for businesses and employers, if Gov. Charlie Baker signs it into law. Lawmakers have not said when they will vote on the bill and if they will first accept public testimony. The House is scheduled to meet in a formal session on Thursday. The Senate has only an informal session scheduled that day.
As of Monday afternoon, lawmakers had not released a copy of the bill, but only a statement of intent, so details of the proposals were unavailable.
Read more: https://commonwealthmagazine.org/economy/legislature-plans-to-expand-paid-sick-leave/
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