status, or any other protected status. (b) State and local laws Nothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede (including preempting) any provision of any State or local law that provides greater paid sick time or leave rights (including greater amounts of paid sick time or leave, or greater coverage of those eligible for paid sick time or leave) than the rights established under this Act. 12. Effect on existing employment benefits (a) More protective Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish the obligation of an employer to comply with any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or any employment benefit program or plan that provides greater paid sick leave or other leave rights to employees or individuals than the rights established under this Act. (b) Less protective The rights established for employees under this Act shall not be diminished by any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or any employment benefit program or plan. 13. Encouragement of more generous leave policies Nothing in this Act shall be construed to discourage employers from adopting or retaining leave policies more generous than policies that comply with the requirements of this Act. 14. Regulations (a) In general (1) Authority Except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act with respect to employees described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 4(4) and other individuals affected by employers described in subclause (I) or (II) of section 4(5)(A)(i). (2) Government Accountability Office