5329-S AMS HONE GORR 021

5329-S AMS HONE GORR 021

SSB 5329 - S AMD 061

By Senator Honeyford

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. I. The legislature finds that an employee who is a crime victim may need to take leave from work in order to participate in legal proceedings, obtain medical treatment, and obtain other necessary services arising from the crime. The legislature also finds that the demands of the workplace, the needs of the criminal justice system, and the needs of crime victims must be balanced in order to have economic security and a well-functioning society. The legislature further finds that employers today, especially small businesses, face a complicated array of mandated leave requirements that overlap and are difficult to administer. The legislature therefore establishes a joint select committee to study and make findings and recommendations related to leave from employment for crime victims, and identify potential improvements to other related leave laws that might reduce the burden on businesses and create greater flexibility for workers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. II. (1) There is hereby created a joint select committee on leave from employment for crime victims composed of the following four voting members:

(a) Two members of the senate labor, commerce and financial institutions committee, one from each of the major caucuses, to be appointed by the president of the senate; and

(b) Two members of the house of representatives commerce and labor committee, one from each of the major caucuses, to be appointed by the co-speakers of the house of representatives.

(2) The task force shall consult with and be advised by an advisory committee consisting of the following eight nonvoting members:

(a) Two members representing labor, appointed jointly by the president of the senate and the co-speakers of the house of representatives, from a list of names submitted by a state-wide organization representing a cross-section and majority of organized labor in the state;

(b) Two members representing business, appointed jointly by the president of the senate and the co-speakers of the house of representatives, from a list of names submitted by a state-wide organization of employers representing a majority of employers of the state;

(d) One representative of the department of labor and industries;

(e) One representative of the department of social and health services; and

(f) One representative of the office of financial management.

(3) The senate committee services and house office of program research, as directed, shall provide support to the joint select committee. In addition, if requested, the labor market and economic analysis branch of the employment security department, or other state agency staff shall assist the joint select committee with its duties.

NEW SECTION. Sec. III. The joint select committee, in consultation with the advisory committee, shall study and make findings and recommendations related to the following aspects of leave from employment for crime victims:

(1) The number of workers that would require such leave from employment each year and for what reasons a crime victim may need to take leave from employment;

(2) The extent to which state and federal mandated leave is currently available to crime victims and the extent to which employers already have programs in place to accommodate crime victims without legal requirements to do so;

(3) The extent to which additional leave, if any, may be necessary;

(4) To what types of crimes should such leave apply and to what size of employer should such leave requirements apply;

(5) What remedies, if any, should be available for crime victims denied leave;

(6) The extent to which such leave requirements would impose additional hardships on employers and the extent to which remedies are available to minimize such hardships;

(7) The extent to which consistency between state and federal leave laws can be achieved and the extent to which improvements can be made to existing leave laws to reduce the burden on businesses and create greater flexibility for workers;

(8) The extent to which changes, if any, in state and federal laws are necessary to implement the findings and recommendations of this committee; and

(9) Any other issues identified by the joint select committee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. IV. The joint select committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the labor, commerce and financial institutions committee of the senate, and to the commerce and labor committee of the house of representatives by December 1, 2001.

NEW SECTION. Sec. V. The joint select committee and the advisory committee on leave from employment for crime victims expire July 1, 2002."

SSB 5329 - S AMD 061

By Senator Honeyford

On page 1, on line 1 of the title, after "victims;", strike the remainder of the title and insert "and creating new sections"