View the original

House members gave final approval Monday to a controversial bill that would require businesses to offer parents unpaid leave time to attend their children's educational activities.

House Bill 1057 passed on a 35-30 vote, with Democratic Reps. Kathleen Curry of Gunnison, Joe Rice of Littleton and Sue Schafer of Wheat Ridge, joining all 27 Republicans in opposing it.

Sponsoring Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, said the requirement to allow leave is vital especially to low-income parents working jobs that do not offer such benefits.

Republicans, however, called the measure intrusive and said leave is an issue that can be worked out between each business and employee rather than put into a uniform policy that must be followed by everyone.