A bill to create a task force to recommend a statewide employee medical leave policy and which would prohibit local ordinances Monday continued its march to the Senate floor.

The Judiciary Committee approved the measure after listening to 20 minutes of public testimony from several Orange County residents. SB 726 emerges while Orange and Miami-Dade counties are considering sick-time measures. The Florida Chamber, Associated Industries of Florida and the Retail Federation all registered their support for the measure.

Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, said his proposal aims to create a statewide policy on sick leave so that businesses don’t have to navigate a myriad of regulations passed by city and county governments.

“This is an issue that cries out for uniformity of regulations,” Simmons said. “I submit to you this bill provides for uniformity. The issue that is being determined by the task force that is created is what kind of policy the state of Florida should adopt.”

Last year more than 50,000 Orange County voters tried to place an earned sick-time measure on the November ballot. At the business community’s urging, the county commission refused and a three-judge panel ordered the initiative to be place on the 2014 ballot. The fight then moved to Tallahassee with both the House and Senate moving bills to preempt local labor wage and sick regulations to the state. Continue