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Committee Rejects Bill To Require Paid Employee Sick Leave

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A legislative panel has defeated a measure to require South Dakota businesses to offer workers paid sick leave.

The state Senate Commerce and Energy Committee on Thursday voted to kill the proposal after significant pushback from business groups.

It would have allowed employees to accrue an hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours they work once they’ve been at the company for three months.

Sen. Angie Buhl O’Donnell, a Democrat from Sioux Falls, says paid sick leave is an important public health issue. She says allowing employees to stay home if they are sick is key in the face of this year’s flu and measles outbreaks.

South Dakota Retailers Association executive director Shawn Lyons says the state should not add more mandates to burden employers in South Dakota.