Government

Bill to Give Parents of Children With Disabilities Four Hours of Paid Leave Advances in Legislature

Parents and guardians of children with diagnosed disabilities may soon be afforded four hours of paid leave monthly to attend medical appointments and provide other related care.  Bill 36-0207, sponsored by Senator Avery Lewis, would amend Title 3 and Title 24 of the Virgin Islands Code to require employers – both private and public – to grant the aforementioned leave.  In a passionate introduction of the bill, Senator Lewis noted that the provision “may sound like just another leave, but I say respectfully, until you have walked in the shoes of these parents, you cannot fully understand the weight they carry.” The proposal, he said, asks employers to “lead with compassion, fairness and humanity.” Children who have been diagnosed with disabilities “require a special level of care, love, patience and attention,” Mr. Lewis said. Time off from work to attend to appointments or emergencies, therefore, becomes critical. According to Lewis, the bill “recognizes the needs of families while...