BEND, OR -- Oregon rolls out the new "Protected Sick Time" law next year, and the Bureau of Labor of Industries is traveling the state looking for input on how to implement it. BOLI will be in Bend Tuesday, along with an advisory committee of employers, labor groups and lawmakers.

Charlie Burr with BOLI tells KBND, "The Legislature passed the law and that's the broad framework. This series of meetings is to go over the rulemaking as proposed, and make sure it's actually going to work for employers and employees to make sure it's workable and that people understand it and have a chance to weigh in and make sure we're on track before the new law goes into effect."

Read more on the Bend Chamber of Commerce's opposition to the new law. 

He says Portland provided a good practice run. "We do have experience implementing this because of Portland's sick time ordinance. We were the enforcement agency and what we did was have the first six months really focus on employer education, so people could understand the new law. If there were minor violations that weren't intentional violations, we allowed them time to correct the error, as opposed to going in to prosecution. We had an easing in period so it could work for everyone." He adds, "One of the key lessons from that experience was making sure employers understand and had full access to, not just the fact that the new law was about to take effect, but all the details and nuances that they need to know to stay in compliance."

Today's public hearing begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Deschutes County Services Building, at 1300 NW Wall St. in Bend. Comments can also be submitted via email, to paloma.sparks@state.or.us.