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Day two of David Pecker testimony wraps in NY Trump trial; Supreme Court hears arguments on Idaho's near-total abortion ban; ND sees a flurry of campaigning among Native candidates; and NH lags behind other states in restricting firearms at polling sites.

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The Senate moves forward with a foreign aid package. A North Carolina judge overturns an aged law penalizing released felons. And child protection groups call a Texas immigration policy traumatic for kids.

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Wyoming needs more educators who can teach kids trade skills, a proposal to open 40-thousand acres of an Ohio forest to fracking has environmental advocates alarmed and rural communities lure bicyclists with state-of-the-art bike trail systems.

New Paid-Leave Law Takes Effect Friday

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Monday, December 28, 2020   

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Starting Friday January 1, 85% of workers in Maine will be able to earn paid time off.

The Earned Paid Leave law says people who work for companies that have more than 10 employees will earn an hour of paid leave for every 40 hours they work, accruing up to 40 hours per year. Mike Tipping, communications director for the Maine People's Alliance, said the need for paid time off is particularly acute during the pandemic, but it's always been a huge issue.

"When they get sick or injured or are caring for a loved one, many people, they don't have a single paid day off, or even an hour they can take and help care for a loved one or a child," Tipping said.

The law is unusual in that workers don't have to be sick to take the time off, in fact, they don't have to justify it at all. Opponents have said requiring paid leave puts a burden on businesses at a time when the economy already has taken a big hit during the pandemic shutdowns.

The bill does not apply to workers who are part of a collective-bargaining agreement.

Any unused leave can be carried over for one year. Tipping called it a big step for workers - especially low-wage workers. But he said he'd like to see lawmakers set up a system, funded by paycheck deductions, that covers long-term paid leave for extended illness or the birth of a child.

"We need earned paid family and medical leave," he said. "You know, there are a lot of situations that paid time off alone or paid sick days isn't going to cover. So we hope the Legislature will address that this coming year. "

Former House Speaker Sara Gideon introduced a paid family and medical leave bill last session, but it died when the Legislature adjourned early due to COVID-19. Nine states plus Washington D.C. have laws requiring paid family and medical leave.


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