CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
HOUSE BILL 1927
Chapter 271, Laws of 2022
67TH LEGISLATURE
2022 REGULAR SESSION
LEGISLATIVE SERVICE LEAVE—PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 9, 2022
Passed by the House February 8, 2022
  Yeas 80  Nays 16
LAURIE JINKINS

Speaker of the House of Representatives
Passed by the Senate March 4, 2022
  Yeas 44  Nays 4
DENNY HECK

President of the Senate
CERTIFICATE
I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is HOUSE BILL 1927 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.
BERNARD DEAN

Chief Clerk
Chief Clerk
Approved March 31, 2022 4:38 PM
FILED
April 1, 2022
JAY INSLEE

Governor of the State of Washington
Secretary of State
State of Washington

HOUSE BILL 1927

Passed Legislature - 2022 Regular Session
State of Washington
67th Legislature
2022 Regular Session
ByRepresentatives Riccelli, Sullivan, Santos, Simmons, Ramel, Ormsby, and Fey
Read first time 01/12/22.Referred to Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards.
AN ACT Relating to encouraging citizens to serve in the legislature by creating leave provisions for legislative service; and adding a new chapter to Title 49 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. (1) The Washington state legislature is purposefully designed to be a part-time legislature to provide people from all areas of life the opportunity to participate. All businesses and industries, in the private and public sector, benefit when the legislature is made up of the broadest possible representation.
(2) It is a significant public policy to encourage citizens to serve in the legislature.
(3) Other states have enacted legislation addressing the duties and responsibilities of legislators and prospective legislators in relation to their regular employment. It is the intent of this act to address potential uncertainties that can occur between employers and employees who are part-time legislators because of the time requirements of the legislature.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. For the purposes of this chapter, "employer" means: (1) The state, state institutions, and state agencies; and (2) any unit of local government including, but not limited to, a county, city, town, municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, or political subdivision.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. (1) An employer must grant a temporary leave of absence without loss of job status or seniority to an employee who is a member of the state legislature in order for that employee to perform any official duty as a member of the legislature during regular and special legislative sessions.
(2) The leave of absence under this chapter may be unpaid leave. However, an employee may elect to substitute any accrued paid leave to which the employee is entitled for any part of the leave provided under this chapter.
(3) An employer may not discharge or threaten to discharge an employee for taking a leave of absence under this chapter.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4. (1) An employee who seeks leave under this chapter must provide the employer with notice of the employee's intention to take leave at least 30 days before a regular legislative session.
(2) When a special legislative session is called, the employee must provide notice to the employer as soon as the governor or legislature proclaims the special legislative session.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5. If an employer violates the provisions of this chapter, the employee may only bring a civil action, at his or her own expense, in superior court for an order requiring the reinstatement of the employee. Public resources may not be used, directly or indirectly, to bring or maintain a civil action under this section.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 5 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 49 RCW.
Passed by the House February 8, 2022.
Passed by the Senate March 4, 2022.
Approved by the Governor March 31, 2022.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State April 1, 2022.
--- END ---