On February 20, Associate Policy Director Karrington Anderson submitted written testimony before the Finance Committee in support of SB 652 – Local Government – Local Personnel – Leave With Pay with amendments.
With the sponsor amendments, this bill provides counties with the flexibility to grant disaster service leave to employees while ensuring that local governments retain discretion over its implementation.
To maintain flexibility, MACo suggests clarifying language to confirm that counties and municipalities have discretion in granting this leave rather than being required to do so. MACo believes this was the sponsor’s original intent with the bill.
Counties appreciate the bill’s intent to provide a pathway for local government employees to engage in critical disaster response efforts without imposing an undue mandate on county operations. MACo worked with the sponsor on clarifying amendments to ensure the bill allows counties to decide whether to grant this leave rather than mandating it.
SB 652’s cross-file, HB 1080, was heard on February 25 in the House Appropriations Committee. Karrington Anderson testified in support of this bill with amendments.
SB 652 was heard in the opposite chamber, the Appropriations Committee, on March 26. As amended, MACO submitted written testimony in support of this bill.
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