A bill that pre-empts local sick leave ordinances like the one championed by Orange County citizens, is on its way to Gov. Rick Scott for signature. The measure easily passed the Florida House in a 76-41 vote on Thursday.
The bill, backed by Walt Disney and Darden restaurants, makes meaningless a three-judge panel’s ruling that Orange County place its sick time initiative on the next election ballot scheduled for August 2014.
Last year, more than 50,000 residents of Orange County signed a petition to ask voters whether businesses of a certain size should offer paid sick-leave to employees. The Orange County Commission who largely answers to lobbyists, initially blocked the vote until ordered to place it on the next election ballot.
Calls for a special election which would have given voters a say on Orange County’s first citizen initiative to qualify by petition, and pre-empt the current bill, went unheeded by Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Orange County Commissioners.
The bill, expected to be signed by Scott, makes provision for a task force to be established and report back to lawmakers in 2014 on whether a statewide policy should govern family and medical leave.
And the Republicans appoint the “committee” – right?