Labor & Employment (Collective Bargaining)

This bill proposes to remove a specific clause from the Kansas Constitution that currently protects employees from being fired based on whether they join a labor union. If passed by the legislature and approved by voters, it would eliminate the state's constitutional "right to work" provision regarding union membership. The bill directly affects workers and employers by changing the legal rules around union membership in the state. It is a procedural measure that sets up a vote for the public to decide whether to keep or remove this existing constitutional protection.

SB 216 establishes Kansas' first statewide paid sick leave law, requiring most private employers to provide earned paid sick time for health and safety needs. Employees accrue sick time at their regular hourly rate (minimum $7.25/hour), with limits based on employer size: larger employers must provide up to 80 hours annually, while smaller businesses offer less. The law prohibits retaliation for using sick leave, bans employer demands for replacement workers, and allows up to 80 hours to carry over annually or be paid out at year-end. It excludes small businesses with under $5,000 annual sales, certain government workers, and employees covered by collective bargaining agreements.