The HFA has been proposed in the U.S. Senate by Tom Harkin (D-IA) with 18 co-sponsors and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) with 94 co-sponsors. Below is a brief summary of the bill.
The Healthy Families Act (H.R.1876, S.984) requires employers, who employ 15 or more employees, to permit each employee (including part-time employees) to earn at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. An employer is not required to permit an employee to earn more than 56 hours of paid sick time in a calendar year. Accrual of leave begins at commencement of employment though the employee is not entitled to use it until the 60th calendar day after starting. It allows employees to use the leave for: meeting their own medical needs (including preventive care); caring for the medical needs of certain family members; or seeking medical attention or performing other required tasks due to being a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.