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Bill > HB348


VA HB348

VA HB348
Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.


summary

Introduced
01/05/2024
In Committee
02/01/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
04/11/2024

Introduced Session

2024 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Employment; paid sick leave; civil penalties. Expands Employment; paid sick leave; civil penalties. Expands provisions of the Code that currently require one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked for home health workers to cover all employees of private employers and state and local governments. The bill requires that employees who are employed and compensated on a fee-for-service basis accrue paid sick leave in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. The bill provides that employees transferred to a separate division or location remain entitled to previously accrued paid sick leave and that employees retain their accrued sick leave under any successor employer. The bill allows employers to provide a more generous paid sick leave policy than prescribed by its provisions. Employees, in addition to using paid sick leave for their physical or mental illness or to care for a family member, may use paid sick leave for their need for services or relocation due to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. The bill provides that certain health care workers who work no more than 30 hours per month may waive the right to accrue and use paid sick leave. The bill also provides that employers are not required to provide paid sick leave to certain health care workers who are employed on a pro re nata, or as-needed, basis, regardless of the number of hours worked. The bill requires the Commissioner to promulgate regulations regarding employee notification and employer recordkeeping requirements. The bill authorizes the Commissioner, in the case of a knowing violation, to subject an employer to a civil penalty not to exceed $150 for the first violation, $300 for the second violation, and $500 for each successive violation. The Commissioner may institute proceedings on behalf of an employee to enforce compliance with the provisions of this bill. Additionally, an aggrieved employee is authorized to bring a civil action against the employer in which he may recover double the amount of any unpaid sick leave and the amount of any actual damages suffered as the result of the employer's violation. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.

AI Summary

This bill expands the provisions of the Code that currently require one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked for home health workers to cover all employees of private employers and state and local governments. The bill requires employees who are employed and compensated on a fee-for-service basis to accrue paid sick leave in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. The bill allows employees to use paid sick leave for their need for services or relocation due to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, in addition to using it for their own or a family member's physical or mental illness. The bill provides that certain health care workers may waive the right to accrue and use paid sick leave, and that employers are not required to provide paid sick leave to certain health care workers employed on an as-needed basis. The bill authorizes the Commissioner to impose civil penalties for knowing violations and allows aggrieved employees to bring a civil action against the employer. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2025.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Continued to 2025 in Appropriations by voice vote (on 02/09/2024)

bill text


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