Group to submit paid sick leave bill to legislature

A group pushing for a state law requiring paid sick leave for employees has enough signature to send the bill to the legislature. (Source: "Paid sick leave bill ready for lawmakers," Business First of Columbus, Jan. 4, 2007.) On Friday Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner certified that Ohioans for Healthy Families, a coalition of 180 organizations, submitted more than 120,683 valid signatures in at least 44 counties to put the proposal before the General Assembly.

The bill will go to the legislature perhaps as early as this week. Lawmakers will then have 120 days to act. If the legislature doesn't pass the bill, coalition said it will launch another signature drive to put the proposal on the November ballot. The bill would mandate at least seven days of paid sick leave a year at businesses with 25 or more employees. Supporters say 76% of Ohioans support the bill; opponents say the bill will unfairly increase costs on small businesses.