The State House News Service put out this update today:
STATE CAPITOL BRIEFS - MORNING EDITION - WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
SENATE REJECTS DELAY IN EARNED SICK TIME PENALTIES
Senators on Tuesday voted 10-28 to rebuff an attempt to delay the implementation of penalties in the earned sick time law voters approved in November.
Sen. Don Humason (R-Westfield) offered an amendment to the fiscal 2016 budget that delays penalties for violations of the law until January. Humason said his aim was to protect employers and give them a chance to comply with the law, while allowing people to still accumulate earned sick time. Sen. Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth), said many small companies do not have the resources or legal staff to process the law, which goes into effect on July 1.
"The goal of the amendment is as long as they're not willfully skirting the law they will not be charged treble damages," deMacedo said.
Attorney General Maura Healey's office has proposed regulations to accompany the law and on Monday proposed a provision that calls for a transition period for employers with existing earned sick time policies. Sen. Dan Wolf (D-Harwich) said he had spoken with Healey's office. Officials told him that they are on a "good path" with the regulations, and an amendment like Humason's would "cloud the water," he said.
Four Democrats joined the six-member Republican caucus in supporting the amendment - Sens. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), Michael Moore (D-Millbury), Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster), and Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport).
- Gintautas Dumcius/SHNS
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5/20/2015
5/20/2015
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