SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5993

              As Passed Senate, January 24, 1996

Title:  An act relating to leaves of absence for disaster relief services.

Brief Description:  Providing for paid leaves of absence for state employees to provide disaster relief services.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Government Operations (originally sponsored by Senators Winsley, Finkbeiner, Swecker and Wood).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/28/95, 3/1/95 [DPS]; 1/10/96 [DP, DNP].

Passed Senate, 3/10/95, 42-4; 1/24/96, 43-4.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Goings, Hale, McCaslin and Winsley.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Heavey.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  A state employee must request and be granted an official leave status in order to participate in specialized disaster relief services.  This status would be leave without pay or vacation time.

Summary of Bill:  A category of leave of absence with full pay and benefits is established for state employees to participate in specialized disaster relief services after a proclamation of a state emergency.  The maximum period is 160 working hours in any 12-month period.  The employee must be a certified disaster services volunteer of the American Red Cross and receive a request to serve.  The leave must be approved by the employee's supervisor.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 28, 1995.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  No large fiscal impact is expected because the bill only applies to declared states of emergency.  State employee volunteers may not be able to afford to help in emergencies without this measure.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Richard Wortley (pro); Terri Giles, American Red Cross (pro).