Calif. paid sick leave bill advances

SACRAMENTO Calif. Legislation that would make California the first state to mandate paid sick leave from employers passed its first hurdle Wednesday with approval by the state Assembly's Labor and Employment Committee.

Proposed by Rep. Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, AB 2716 would allow California workers to accrue sick leave time at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, and would carry over from year to year. The paid time off would be available for