Rick Scott signs ALEC-backed ban on paid sick leave

The law blocks local governments from implementing mandatory sick leave policies

Published June 17, 2013 5:35PM (EDT)

Gov. Rick Scott, R-Fla., has signed a bill that would prevent municipal governments in the state from implementing measures mandating paid sick leave policies for businesses.

The Orlando Sentinel reports:

The Republican governor sided with Walt Disney World, Darden Restaurants, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and a broad array of powerful business interests that argued the ban was needed to avoid a patchwork of local employment rules for companies.

"This bill fosters statewide uniformity, consistency and predictability in Florida's employer-employee relationships," Scott said in a statement. "These fundamental elements are essential to ensuring a business-friendly environment that supports job creation."

As ThinkProgress has pointed out, the original sponsor of the legislation, state Rep. Steve Precourt, a Republican, is a member of the shady lobbying group ALEC, which writes model legislation for state legislatures, and has been pushing similar bills to gut labor standards in other states as well.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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Alec Florida Paid Sick Leave Republicans Rick Scott