Healthy Families Act
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UPDATE: Sept. 4, 2008 - Ohioans for Healthy Families announced today that it has agreed to pull the paid sick leave issue from the Nov. 4 ballot. OCSEA BLOG

Next Steps: How can we make this proposal law? Proposed act moves forward

Updated May 9, 2008 - Ohioans for Healthy Families yesterday launched a signature gathering operation across the state to give voters the opportunity to approve Paid Sick Days.

May 8 marked the group's first opportunity to do so after a four-month period in which the General Assembly had the opportunity to move the legislation forward, but refused.

There is a 90-day window in which signatures— the second set since this process started more than a year ago—can be collected and petitions submitted to Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. The deadline is in August.

The proposed act would provide for up to seven days of paid sick leave for employers with 25 or more employees.

 TIMELINE  

April 6, 2007 - The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) / District 1199 filed a petition on April 6, 2007, with the Ohio Attorney General to start the process of placing a new statute, entitled Healthy Families Act (“Proposed Act”), before the Ohio General Assembly and, eventually, Ohio voters.

April 16, 2007 - The Ohio Attorney General certified the Proposed Act’s language.

April 26, 2007 - the Ohio Ballot Board endorsed the proposal on, making way for the process of collecting the required 120,683 signatures to submit the Proposed Act to the Ohio General Assembly.

Spring 2008 - Upon collection of the required number of signatures, Ohio legislators had four months in which to vote on the Proposed Act. However, they did not move this paid sick leave law forward.

May 2008 - Since the Ohio General Assembly failed to take action, proponents now have 90 days to collect a second set of 120,683 different signatures to place the proposed law on the November 2008 general election ballot.

August 2008 - Submit petitions with signatures to Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to place legislation on the ballot.

Nov. 4, 2008 - General Election Day.

See Related

Get Involved

Download Petition (PDF)

About Ohio Healthy Families Act

Implementation: How would proposed program work?

FAQ on Health Families Act (PDF)

Proposed Summary of Healthy Families Act (PDF)

Website of The Healthy Families Act

Website of SPAN Ohio