Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 296-134 WAC, Parental (family) leave.

     Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 49.78 RCW and chapter 59, Laws of 2006 (SSB 6185).

     Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This rule making is a result of chapter 59, Laws of 2006 (SSB 6185), which passed the 2006 legislature. The legislation amends the Family Leave Act (FMLA) to provide family and medical leave coverage for employees identical to the existing FMLA. The department is updating the rule to be consistent with the statute.

     Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division and Human Rights Commission.

     Process for Developing New Rule: The department will solicit input from the employment law advisory committee (ELAC) and other interested parties. The public may also participate by providing written comments or giving oral testimony during the public hearing process.

     Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Sally Elliott, Department of Labor and Industries, Specialty Compliance Services Division, P.O. Box 44400, Olympia, WA 98504-4400, phone (360) 902-6411, fax (360) 902-5292, e-mail yous235@lni.wa.gov.

June 6, 2006

Gary Weeks

Director

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