H-0943.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1556

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Keiser, Radcliff, Romero, Cooper, Cole, Butler, Veloria, Conway, Carlson, Hatfield, Chopp, Blalock, Kenney, Poulsen, Costa, Regala, Wolfe, O'Brien, Mason and Scott

Read first time 01/30/97.  Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

Requiring that employers adopt employment policies to allow employees to attend school conferences and meetings.

    AN ACT Relating to employment policies to allow employees to attend school conferences and meetings; and adding a new section to chapter 49.12 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 49.12 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The legislature finds that parents and guardians of children attending public schools need to be involved with their children's education and that flexibility in workplace leave and work schedules is important to encourage that involvement.

    (2) Each employer and local school district shall develop a policy that allows employees who are parents or guardians of children attending public schools to attend school conferences and meetings.  The policy must be developed mutually by the employer and employees and may provide for employees to use paid leave designated for this purpose, a flexible work schedule, or vacation or sick leave, to enable employees to attend school conferences or meetings.

    (3) As used in this section, "school conferences and meetings" include parent and teacher conferences and other meetings with school staff including, but not limited to, meetings related to student progress, discipline, or special education.

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