Title: An act relating to leaves of absence for peace corps volunteers.

Brief Description: Authorizing leaves of absence for full-time certificated and classified employees serving as peace corps volunteers.

Sponsors: Senators Jacobsen, Kohl-Welles, Kline and Fraser.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education: 2/23/05.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING, K-12 & HIGHER EDUCATION

Staff: Brian Jeffries (786-7422)

Background: The Peace Corps was officially established March 1, 1961. Since its inception, there have been over 178,000 volunteers and trainees participate. The mission of the Peace Corps is to help people in interested countries in meeting their needs for trained women and men, help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people they serve, and help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of all Americans.

Under current law, school district boards of directors must adopt written policies granting leaves to employees under contract in positions requiring certification or classified qualifications, including but not limited to leaves for attendance at official or private institutes and conferences and sabbatical leaves for employees in positions requiring certification qualifications.

Summary of Bill: School district boards of directors must grant leaves of absence without pay for at least two years to any full-time certificated or classified employee who serves as a volunteer in the Peace Corps who volunteers for the Peace Corps at the time the person is a full-time employee. Upon expiration of the leave, the certificated or classified employee must be granted the right to be reinstated to the position held before the leave was granted at the salary rate prevailing for that position when the employee resumes duty, without loss of seniority or sick leave. Employees who fail to report back to their districts within ninety days after termination of service with the Peace Corps would not receive the benefit of reinstatement.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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