SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6338
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Labor & Commerce, January 22, 2018
Title: An act relating to making technical corrections to the family and medical leave program and making no substantive changes.
Brief Description: Making technical corrections to the family and medical leave program.
Sponsors: Senators Keiser, Fain, Liias, Chase, Conway and Saldaña; by request of Employment Security Department.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Labor & Commerce: 1/17/18, 1/22/18 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Hasegawa, Vice Chair; Braun, Conway, King, Kuderer, Saldaña and Wilson.
Staff: Richard Rodger (786-7461)
Background: In 2017, the Legislature passed a comprehensive program to provide paid family and medical leave to all qualifying employees working in the state. An employee must work 820 hours in the qualifying period to be eligible for the benefits.
The program provides paid family leave of up to 12 weeks to bond after the birth or placement of a child or to care for a family member with a serious health condition. It also provides paid medical leave of up to 12 weeks for an employee's serious health condition. The paid leave limits may be combined to 16 weeks of leave in a year, plus an additional two weeks if there are pregnancy complications, for a possible total of 18 weeks. The program requires a seven‐day waiting period for leave, except for the birth or placement of a child.
Premiums to support the program will be assessed and collected beginning January 1, 2019, and qualifying employees will be eligible for benefits beginning January 1, 2020.
Summary of Bill: Several statutory cross-references are corrected. Clarifying changes are made to provisions regarding administrative law review and judicial review of administrative decisions.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The bill just makes technical changes and does not contain any substantive changes to the law. All the members of the Paid Family & Medical Leave Advisory Committee support the technical changes made in this bill.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Bob Battles, AWB; Joe Kendo, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Nick Streuli, Legislative Director, Employment Security Department.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.