Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives on Wednesday approved Senate Bill 1149, which would let public employees use up to 15 days a year of their accumulated sick leave to accompany family members during hospitalizations, therapies and prolonged medical treatments. The measure was sponsored by Senator Héctor González López and was previously approved unanimously by the Senate.
It now goes to Governor Jenniffer González Colón for her consideration. Currently, public employees can use up to five days a year to attend to certain medical needs of relatives. The proposal would expand that benefit to 15 days, as long as the employee maintains a minimum balance of 12 days of sick leave.
If the bill becomes law, the Office of Human Resources Administration and Transformation (Oficina de Administración y Transformación de los Recursos Humanos) would have 90 days to establish the corresponding regulations.