This bill establishes a right to paid sick leave for all employees working in Kansas, effective January 1, 2027. Under the new law, employees will earn at least two hours of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, with a minimum entitlement of 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. Employers may offer more generous paid sick leave policies but are not required to provide financial reimbursement for unused sick leave upon termination, except in cases of retaliatory actions. The bill also outlines specific circumstances under which employees can use their accrued sick leave, including personal illness, caring for a family member, and situations involving domestic abuse or public health emergencies.

Additionally, the bill mandates that employees can begin to use their accrued sick leave as it is earned and allows for the carryover of unused sick leave into subsequent years, with a maximum of 40 hours usable per year. It stipulates that if an employee is rehired within six months, any unused sick leave must be reinstated. The Secretary of Labor is tasked with creating necessary regulations to implement these provisions, ensuring that employees compensated on a fee-for-service basis are also covered under this law.