AUSTIN – Yesterday, a coalition comprised of 11 business and trade associations in San Antonio filed an amicus brief in support of the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s paid sick leave lawsuit against the city of Austin.

“Our clients welcome the support of this diverse, non-partisan San Antonio business coalition joining us to oppose the Austin mandatory paid sick leave ordinance,” said Rob Henneke, general counsel at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “The perspective of these San Antonio business leaders explains how disruptive the Austin ordinance is to the business community even outside Austin’s city limits. As this amicus explains, the Austin ordinance is clearly preempted by Texas state law, and must be struck down.”

Member groups of the San Antonio coalition include:

  • North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
  • Real Estate Council of San Antonio
  • Associated Builders & Contractors – South Texas Chapter
  • San Antonio Manufacturers Association
  • Greater San Antonio Builders Association
  • San Antonio Apartment Association
  • San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
  • National Association of Women Business Owners – San Antonio Chapter
  • Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce
  • South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
  • SA Auto Dealers

TPPF filed the lawsuit on April 24, 2018, in response to the passage of the ordinance by members of the Austin City Council in an overnight 9-2 vote on February 15, 2018. A coalition of 29 members of the Texas Legislature filed an amicus brief in support of TPPF’s lawsuit on August 10, 2018, and the Texas Court of Appeals for the Third District granted a stay on August 17, 2018, preventing Austin’s paid sick leave ordinance from taking effect while the appeal is pending.

The San Antonio City Council approved a paid sick leave ordinance, similar to the ordinance passed by Austin City Council, on August 16, 2018. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office wrote a letter to the San Antonio City Council on July 9, 2018, warning of circumventing Texas law on paid sick leave.

For more information, please contact Alicia Pierce at [email protected] or 512-472-2700.    

Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit free-market research institute based in Austin that aims to foster human flourishing by protecting and promoting liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility.

Primary website: www.TexasPolicy.com
Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/TexasPublicPolicyFoundation
Twitter feed: www.Twitter.com/TPPF