Family leave bill moves forward in the Oklahoma House

Thursday, February 24th 2005, 6:42 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State tax credits would be issued to Oklahoma businesses that provide paid leave to employees with family obligations under legislation approved by a state House committee.

The measure's author, Majority Leader Lance Cargill says the bill would create a tax credit for employers who grant paid leave to employees during the birth or adoption of a child.

Cargill says the bill is pro-family and pro-business. Businesses benefit because it helps them help their employees.

Businesses would receive a tax credit equal to 20 percent of the salaries or wages paid to qualifying employees for a period not to exceed six weeks in a 12-month period.

During the leave time, employees could receive no more than half their normal weekly wage with a maximum of 5-hundred dollars per week.

The measure, House Bill 1803, is modeled after a Missouri law. It now goes to the House.