Bill > H850

This bill, the "Economic Security Act of 2021", proposes several key provisions: 1. Increases the state minimum wage incrementally from $8.00 per hour in 2021 to $15.00 per hour by 2025, pegging the minimum wage to the federal minimum wage if higher. 2. Establishes an "Equal Pay Act" requiring equal pay for equal work regardless of sex, with exceptions for seniority, length of service, and other reasonable factors. 3. Creates a "Healthy Families and Healthy Workplaces Act" that provides employees with accrued paid sick leave, including for reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. 4. Repeals restrictions on public employee collective bargaining. 5. Reenacts and increases the state earned income tax credit and creates a new child and dependent care tax credit. 6. Increases the maximum unemployment benefit amount and duration. 7. Repeals coronavirus liability immunity laws and establishes a presumption of workers' compensation coverage for pandemic-related illnesses contracted by certain essential workers. 8. Requires hazard pay for state employees designated as "mandatory" during public health emergencies. The bill also includes various other labor and employment provisions, such as wage theft protections and "ban the box" restrictions on criminal history inquiries for public employment.