The Montgomery County Chamber supports labor and employment practices that create a safe work environment but do not allow the legislature to impose artificial wage or benefit levels on private industry.

HB 212 SB 260	Leave with Pay-Illness of Employee's Immediate Family. Allows employees to use leave with pay (sick, vacation, compensatory) for the illness of the employee's child, spouse, and parent; and prohibits an employer from taking any retaliatory action against the employee.	Doory, et al Garagiola, et al	OPPOSE
SB 585 HB 1058	Labor and Employment-Meal Periods. Requires employers to provide employees with an ½ hour nonworking meal period, if the employee has worked for five consecutive hours; allows for a waiver by mutual consent if the employee only works six hours; allows for a paid, working meal, if the type of work prevents an employee from being relieved from work for meals; allows health care employees working more than 8 hours to waive their right to a meal period; requires employers to provide a suitable place for employees to eat during a meal period; requires the employer to pay the employee for one hour's wages, if a meal period is not provided; allows employees to bring a civil action in circuit court, subjecting the employer to back pay and attorney's fees to an employee who prevails.	Britt Manno, et al	OPPOSE
HB 832 SB 828	Healthy Families and Healthy Workplaces Act. Mandates employer-paid sick leave and domestic violence leave for employees after 90 days of employment; maximum amount of paid leave annually is 7 days and 3 1/4 days for small employers (less than 10 employees); allows 5 days of leave to be carried over from the prior year; requires certification from a health care provider or domestic violence professional for use of more than 3 days of consecutive leave; allows any employee to bring an action on behalf of another employee against the employer for violations of the Act; provides for a 5-year statute of limitations; and requires posting of the employee's rights under the Act.	Anderson & Glenn McFadden	OPPOSE
HB 1180	Unemployment Insurance-Maximum Benefit. Increases the weekly unemployment insurance benefit amount, which ranges from $25 to $340, by $40 for all claims establishing a new benefit on Oct. 7, 2007; by $80 for all claims establishing a new benefit on Oct. 5, 2008; and by $120 for all claims establishing a new benefit on Oct. 4, 2009.	Harrison, et al