SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1529

                     As of March 26, 1999

Title:  An act relating to school district employees' personal holidays.

Brief Description:  Clarifying school district employees' personal holidays.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Talcott, Quall and Bush).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  3/29/99.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Staff:  Natalie Adams (786-7444)

Background:  In addition to legal holidays, annual leave, and sick leave, employees of the state receive one paid personal holiday by law.  While school district employees receive legal holidays, annual leave, and sick leave, they are excluded from the personal holiday entitlement and must negotiate through collective bargaining for personal holidays.

School districts may establish a leave sharing program for school employees.  State law requires that the Superintendent of Public Instruction adopt standards for the school district leave sharing program that are consistent with the state employees= leave sharing program and that ensure that the program does not significantly increase the cost of providing leave.

The leave sharing program for state employees permits state employees to share their accumulated annual leave, sick leave, and personal holidays with a second state employee who has exhausted his or her leave as a result of an extraordinary illness, injury, impairment, or mental or physical condition.

The standards adopted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding sharing of leave for school employees does not include a provision allowing school employees to share personal holidays.

Summary of Bill:  School employees who have bargained for and obtained a personal holiday may share that holiday to the extent the law allows.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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