Senator Mike Bernskoetter

6th Senatorial District

For Immediate Release: 

April 4, 2025

Capitol Building, Room 416

Jefferson City, MO 65101

Contact Kenny Ross: 

 573-751-2076

Fixing Proposition A

The passage of Proposition A this past election created unforeseen burdens on our business owners which I believe will make it harder for the economy to grow. That is why I am supportive of efforts in the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate to amend this legislation and ensure it operates in a more equitable manner.

Proposition A contains two main provisions. One increases the state minimum wage to $15.00 dollars per hour and ties future increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The second provision of the proposition creates a sick leave policy for all employers and employees within the state. Unfortunately, I believe this one-size-fits-all approach does not take into account the various situations, jobs and employers this would affect within Missouri.

On a broad level, Proposition A created a framework where all Missouri employees accrue sick leave. Where the complications lie is they are allowed to use that sick leave at any point without any regard to their employer. In fact, an employer is not even allowed to ask an employee why they are taking sick leave or for documentation unless they are gone for three days. This sets up numerous problems, including a health one. For example, if an employee is sick with a contagious disease, it is not unreasonable for an employer to ask what the disease is so other employees can take safety precautions.

It is also problematic that no provisions were made for any of the wide variety of jobs it covers. River barge operators and long-haul truckers do not operate in the typical nine to five manner of most employees. A sick leave policy for them must be tailored for their unique circumstances instead of being based on an arbitrary standard that ultimately will not work for them.

For these reasons, I have filed Senate Bill 684 with the hope of reforming Proposition A. This bill would exempt both seasonal businesses and small businesses from the proposition’s requirements to provide paid sick leave. In addition, future minimum wage increases would not affect these businesses. I believe all employees should have the ability to take sick leave when they are ill. They should also have the ability to help take care of sick children or family, but a one-size-fits-all approach is the wrong way to go about implementing this idea. 

My hope is through this legislation we can start to customize the laws that are a result of Proposition A to fit the variety of different circumstances and establish an equitable way for employers to provide sick leave for employees that is not an undue burden.

Please feel free to contact my office at 573-751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.