The Maryland House of Delegates Friday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow workers to earn paid sick leave. The bill would apply to workers at companies with at least 15 employees.

The workers could earn up to seven days of paid sick leave per year.

The leave could be carried from one year to another, but workers could not use any more than 10 sick days per year.

Supporters say the bill will help prevent the spread of illnesses in the work place, and will give parents the ability to take time off to care for their sick children or parents.

The bill has been amended.

Originally, the bill would have applied to businesses with at least 10 employees.

The legislation has been introduced annually for the last decade, but has never made it out of committee.

The bill is expected to get a final vote in the House of Delegates early next week.