Title: An act relating to employment rights of peace corps and humanitarian organization volunteers and faith-based missionaries.

Brief Description: Granting a right of return to employment to state employees who leave employment to serve as Peace Corps or humanitarian organization volunteers or on faith-based missions.

Sponsors: Senator Fairley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 2/25/05, 3/1/05 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/16/05, 40-7, 2/8/06, 46-1.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Ranking Minority Member; Brown, Honeyford, Keiser and Prentice.

Staff: Jennifer Strus (786-7316)

Background: Generally, when a state employee leaves his or her job, there is no right to be reinstated to that job should the employee wish to return to state service at a later date.

Summary of Bill: A state agency must grant leave without pay to a state employee who leaves state service to serve in the Peace Corps or to participate in a program sponsored by a humanitarian organization or a faith-based mission. When the employee returns, he or she must be returned to his or her previous position or an equivalent position. During the time the employee is serving in the Peace Corps, the employee will not lose his or her seniority and his or her participation in insurance, annual leave, retirement pay and other benefits will be governed by the rules in place at the time leave is granted. Upon return, the employee cannot be discharged without cause from his or her position for one year.

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.

Testimony For: This bill is for state employees who serve their country by joining the Peace Corps. These employees work to let the world know that we are a good decent nation and we want to help others. It would be nice if the employees who serve in the Peace Corps were able to come back to their jobs or an equivalent job.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Fairley, prime sponsor.