Nevada governor vetoes bill to expand paid leave benefits for workers

Republican Governor Joe Lombardo has vetoed Assembly Bill 388, a legislative proposal aimed at expanding paid leave benefits for Nevada's workforce.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Selena La Rue Hatch, sought to extend paid leave to both public and private sector employees by reducing the employment requirement for eligibility from 12 months to 90 days and increasing the leave entitlement from eight weeks to 12 weeks.

The proposed legislation also aimed to broaden the reasons for taking leave to include bonding with a newly placed foster child, recovering from certain health conditions, and addressing issues related to domestic violence, stalking, harassment, or sexual assault.

Under the current law, employees receive 50% of their regular wage during paid family leave. The new proposal would have allowed employees earning up to 110% of the state average weekly wage to receive 100% of their regular wage. Those earning more than 110% would receive 60% of their regular wage, capped at 150% of the state average weekly wage.

The bill also would've mandated that employers with 50 or more employees establish reasonable procedures for employees to take paid family leave. It also required the Human Resources Commission and Labor Commissioner to set regulations for documentation and confidentiality. Additionally, the legislation included provisions for civil action against private employers who fail to comply, with potential penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

The bill passed out of the state assembly with a split 26 to 16 vote, but was ultimately shot down by the governor earlier this week.