Sick-leave bill advances

At the end of last month, the California State Assembly passed AB 1522, which would require employers to provide workers with at least three paid sick days a year.

The bill, introduced by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), will provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours of work, according to California Healthline. It also includes provisions that allow sick leave to be used to care for a sick relative or to recover from sexual assault or domestic violence, exempt employees covered by collective bargaining, and allow unused sick leave to carry over to the next year.

Republican lawmakers and California business groups opposed the bill; the California Chamber of Commerce called it a “job killer.”

The bill’s next hurdle is the state Senate; if it’s signed into law, it would go into effect on July 1, 2015.