Sen. Joe Haynes (D-D-Goodlettsville) will introduce the Healthy Families Act to the Senate Commerce, Labor, and Agriculture Committee tomorrow (April 15) at 1:00 PM CDT, 2:00 PM EDT. (Watch it live via video streaming.)

SB3773 requires that companies with 25 or more employees provide annual paid sick leave for their employees. Such leave may be used to address the employee's medical needs or the medical needs of the employee's immediate family.

Commenting on the bill, Sen. Haynes said "Parents of sick children and the children of sick and elderly parents should know that they can take time off work to care for their loved ones. And they should be able to do this without fear of losing their jobs."

The Healthy Families Act is co-sponsored by Sen. Steve Roller, D-McMinnville, and Sen. Doug Jackson, D-Dickson.

This is a good bill, considering that so many families have two working parents these days, not to mention the growing number of single-parent families.

Expect opposition from Republicans, who talk the talk about family values but don't walk the walk when corporate special interests override family values.

Which doesn't make much sense if you think about it. Healthy employees with healthy, happy families are good for business. What's the point of forcing employees to come to work and go through the motions when they are sick or worried about their loved ones just so they can pay their bills?

Better to give employees the time off they need, so they can return healthy and focused and ready to work. Retaining good employees is always more cost-effective than turnover. Republicans who argue otherwise aren't very good business people, and aren't as "business friendly" as they claim to be.

UPDATE: The bill failed in committee. Sean Braisted has more.