California sees increase in RSV, a respiratory illness that can be dangerous for babies under two years old and can kill people at very young ages
California’s population of children has grown dramatically in the past few decades, according to studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the 1930s, the population was just 5 million. By 2004, it had grown to 10.4 million.
In 2005, the population of children with developmental disabilities was at 13,500, the first time it exceeded 10,000.
In 2003, the numbers of children enrolled in Child Care Assistance programs reached its highest level ever.
In 2003, California became the first state to mandate paid sick time for child care workers, and the first in the nation to require employers to pay workers for every day they miss work due to illness.
Two new bills, AB1301 and Proposition 65, would require businesses to comply with California’s sick leave and paid sick time laws, and require them to post health warning signs regarding their sick time policies.
AB 1301 and Proposition 65 are slated for a vote this month.
These bills are the latest step in a national movement toward stronger protections for workers’ rights, according to Lori Wallach, director of Free Market Environmental Law at Public Justice, the law firm of Public Justice.
“We are watching California’s progress,” said Wallach. “But what we are less interested in is a state-by-state analysis. We are interested in watching the movement across the country.”
California’s “social safety net is becoming stronger,” she said. “We are more aware of the need.”
“Paid sick time has been a success in some states,” said Wallach. “But we are watching California closely.”
California has an extensive network of sick leave laws.
“In 2000, there were 18,500 paid sick days for employees,” said Wallach. “Now the number has grown to 22,000.”
In 2001, there were 3,000 sick days granted to employees who worked in high-pollution