DENVER – A ballot measure asking Coloradans to vote on paid family and medical leave is headed to the November ballot.
The measure, which had been debated and postponed session after session, was killed in the 2020 legislative session earlier this year as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, however, the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office reported that supporters of Initiative 283 had submitted more than enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot by handing
over 205,660 signatures out of the 124,632 needed by the state.
Initiative 283 would give more than 2.6 million Coloradans 12 weeks of paid leave, with companies that offer private plans the ability to opt out. Both employers and workers would each pay 0.45% into the program, with employers having the ability to choose whether they would cover 100% of the costs. Small businesses with fewer than ten employees would be exempt from paying premium payments, which would begin in 2023, with the first benefits available in 2024.
The Secretary of State’s Office said the next step in the process is to receive the official ballot number designation on or before Sept. 4.