5776755 Public Hearing on B21-415, Universal Paid Leave Act of 2015 - February 11, 2016

CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC HEARING

on

Bill 21-415, Universal Paid Leave Act of 2015

on

Thursday, February 11, 2016

4:00 p.m., Council Chambers, John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

            Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces a public hearing before the Committee of the Whole on Bill 21-415, the “Universal Paid Leave Act of 2015.”  The hearing will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2016 in Hearing Room 500, the Council Chambers, of the John A. Wilson Building. 

 

            The stated purpose of Bill 21-415 is to establish a universal paid leave system for all District residents and for workers who are employed in the District of Columbia.  Specifically, the bill allows for 16 weeks of paid family or self-care leave and also amends the D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act of 1990 to extend job protections to individuals who have been employed for six months and worked at least 500 hours in a 12-month period.  Currently, the law requires an individual to be employed for at least one year and to have worked at least 1,000 hours in a 12-month period.  The purpose of this hearing to receive testimony from the public as to the benefits and drawbacks of the proposed legislation. 

 

Those who wish to testify must telephone the Committee of the Whole at
[phone], or email Christina Setlow, Deputy Committee Director at [e-mail], and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Monday, February 8, 2016.  Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 25 copies of written testimony.  Requests will not be accepted after February 8, 2016.  If submitted by the close of business on Tuesday February 9, 2016 the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing.  Witnesses should limit their testimony to three minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.  A copy of Bill 21-415 can be obtained on http://lims.dccouncil.us, or through the Legislative Services Division (Room 10) of the Secretary of the Council’s office.

 

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 410 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.  The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on February 25, 2015.