ANNAPOLIS — Maryland’s House of Delegates voted to override Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto of a paid sick leave bill, that would require businesses with 15 or more employees to provide up to five days of earned paid sick leave.
The vote was 88-52.
In the vote on the second day of the Maryland General Assembly session, Republican Del. Kathy Szeliga said the bill is deeply flawed because it requires victims of domestic violence to disclose why they are taking time off to their employers.
“I hope that we can look — in a bipartisan way — of solving this problem to make sure that we truly are protecting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault,” she said.
She voted to sustain Hogan’s veto.
Del. Cheryl Glenn, a Democrat, voted to support the override. Glenn explained she’s a survivor of domestic abuse and said, without the bill, victims would face hard choices.
“Do you risk going to work knowing that your abuser will follow you there and abuse you on the grounds of your job? And yes, that’s what happened to me,” Glenn said, explaining that her former husband often threatened her with a shotgun to her temple.
The Senate is expected to take up the bill on Friday. Senate President Mike Miller predicted a close vote but said that he’s secured the 29 votes needed for an override.
Hogan has introduced what he calls a compromise bill that will solve many of the concerns that small businesses have about the cost and regulations attached to the bill.
After Thursday’s vote, Hogan’s press secretary, Shareese DeLeaver-Churchill, issued a statement and called the vote “largely a political exercise.”
She said lawmakers should support Hogan’s bill adding, “There is still time to get this right.”
If the Senate votes to override Governor Hogan’s veto of the bill, it would become law in 30 days.
