By Serena Solomon
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Upper West Side Council Member Gale Brewer introduced a new version of a paid sick leave bill to the New York City Council on Thursday afternoon.
Brewer's measure would entitle all employees at small businesses to five days of paid sick leave per year and up to nine days for those employed at larger firms.
Significant changes were made to the original paid sick leave bill based on concerns voiced by the business community when the measure was introduced last year.
After contention arose over the definition of a small business in Brewer’s original version of the bill, the measure was amended to include businesses with 20 employees or less rather than 10.
"Delivering historic health reform is a victory for all New Yorkers," Brewer said in a statement. "But until New Yorkers can take a day off when they are sick or need to care for their children — without having to miss a paycheck or worry about losing their job — we are not done."
As many as 1.85 million working New Yorkers do not receive any paid sick leave, according to Brewer's office.
The councilwoman’s office is pushing for a hearing to be scheduled soon to move the bill quickly through the legislation process.