AUSTIN, Texas — Efforts by leaders in Austin and San Antonio to guarantee paid sick time for all workers could soon be undone by state lawmakers.
- Gov. Abbott supports effort to preempt paid sick time ordinances
- Austin and San Antonio passed similar policies
Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, told a group of small business owners Tuesday he supports efforts to preempt the ordinances. They attended a luncheon hosted by the National Federation of Independent Business, or NFIB.
"It should be an option chosen by the business based upon their strategy of what they want to do as opposed to a government mandate," he said.
Ordinances passed in both Austin and San Antonio last year are nearly identical. They would require companies to give employees one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked. The Texas Court of Appeals ruled Austin's ordinance unconstitutional; San Antonio's ordinance is set to take effect in August.
A bill filed in the Texas House of Representatives, HB 222, would prevent cities and counties from passing such laws.
"The governing body of a municipality may not adopt or enforce any ordinance, rule, or regulation that requires an employer to provide to an employee paid sick leave," the bill said. It constitutes an employer as "a person who employs one or more employees."
Groups that helped craft the city policies said 11 states, the District of Columbia and more than 20 cities outside of Texas have similar policies in place.
"We know that this policy works," said Ana Gonzalez of Workers Defense Action Fund. "Every day, hardworking families have to choose between going to work sick or taking care of themselves."
Members of NFIB met with state lawmakers Tuesday to advocate for policies they believe will benefit small businesses. Groups backing paid sick leave and similar policies plan to visit the State Capitol Thursday.