AUSTIN, Texas – Senate bills addressing employment benefits are back on the table in a House committee.
- House committee discussing employment benefits
- Small business advocates support the bills
- Claim it would streamline benefits statewide
On Wednesday, small business advocates will go before lawmakers to testify about how Senate Bills 2485, 2486, 2487, and 2488 could affect them. Small business advocates are expected to throw in their support for the bills at the hearing.
Advocates claim these pieces of legislation could help streamline benefits statewide and ease some of the workload for small businesses.
All four of these bills have the same theme. They would prohibit cities and counties from passing their own ordinances on certain employment benefits. The benefits include paid sick leave, overtime compensation, and whether or not employers should hire someone if they have a criminal history.
Recently, the City of Dallas joined Austin and San Antonio in passing its own paid sick leave ordinance requiring employers to provide sick time to their employees.
The National Federation of Independent Business, one of the groups testifying at the hearing, says allowing cities and counties to have their own employment rules could be confusing. It can also be expensive to small businesses as they try to meet every jurisdiction's requirements.
The committee hearing starts at 8 a.m. at the Capitol.
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