SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    HB 1364

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS,

                                 APRIL 3, 1991

Brief Description:  Providing military leave for public employees and officers called to active duty.

SPONSORS:Representatives Forner, D. Sommers, Winsley, Wynne, Mitchell, Edmondson, P. Johnson, Chandler, Vance, Wood, Moyer, Miller, Brumsickle, Bowman, Horn, Paris, Casada, Ballard, Brough, Tate and Lisk.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Roach, Vice Chairman; Madsen, and Sutherland. 

Staff:  Barbara Howard (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates:March 27, 1991; April 3, 1991

BACKGROUND:

State and local government employees are granted up to 15 days of paid leave each year for "active training duty" with the National Guard or military reserve units.  However, they cannot use the paid leave for active military duty.

Employees are paid at federal rates when called to active service, but must use annual leave or go on leave without pay from their regular employers in such situations.

SUMMARY:

The 15 days of paid annual leave is extended to cover active military duty as well as training activities.  It applies to employees who reported for active duty on or after August 2, 1990.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill is badly needed because those who have been called to active duty have traditionally been denied the 15 days of paid leave, while those on training duty receive the leave.  In the current situation, the paid leave is more deserved than for any training.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Howard Vietzke, Washington State Council of Firefighters (pro); Sam Kinville, Washington State Council of County and City Employees (pro); Brian Offord, Olympia (with amendments)