Virginia lawmakers voted 54-44 on Friday to approve a bill for providing home care workers with paid sick leave, which had been a divisive issue even among Democrats who control the Senate in the state.
The compromise measure would allow up to five sick days a year, or more if an employer chooses a higher limit, for home care workers serving Medicaid patients. Advocates of the bill said there are about 30,000 such workers in Virginia. State lawmakers also were expected to approve a budget agreement, which will fund the measure with public money, though Del. Mark Sickles was quick to add that the bill’s passage would not affect the private sector “whatsoever.”
The bill now goes to Gov. Ralph Northam (D) for his approval.
