Employers would face penalties for punishing lawmakers for legislative absences

Employers would be barred from firing lawmakers, taking other adverse job actions, or requiring sick or vacation leave because of covered absences. The protection would cover Virginia lawmakers attending regular or special legislative sessions or meetings of committees and other bodies on which they serve because they are lawmakers. The absence must result from attending a covered session or meeting. An employer who violates the rule would commit a Class 3 misdemeanor, a criminal offense.