BILL REQ. #:  H-3609.1 

Read first time 01/10/2006.   Referred to Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability.

     AN ACT Relating to state employees; and amending RCW 41.06.490.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 41.06.490 and 2002 c 354 s 223 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) In addition to the rules adopted under RCW 41.06.150, the director shall adopt rules establishing a state employee return-to-work program. The program shall, at a minimum:
     (a) Direct each agency to adopt a return-to-work policy. The program shall allow each agency program to take into consideration the special nature of employment in the agency;
     (b) Provide for eligibility in the return-to-work program, for a minimum of two years from the date the temporary disability commenced, for any permanent employee who is receiving compensation under RCW 51.32.090 and who is, by reason of his or her temporary disability, unable to return to his or her previous work, but who is physically capable of carrying out work of a lighter or modified nature;
     (c) Allow opportunity for return-to-work statewide when appropriate job classifications are not available in the agency that is the appointing authority at the time of injury;
     (d) Require each agency to name an agency representative responsible for coordinating the return-to-work program of the agency;
     (e) Provide that applicants receiving appointments for classified service receive an explanation of the return-to-work policy;
     (f) Require training of supervisors on implementation of the return-to-work policy, including but not limited to assessment of the appropriateness of the return-to-work job for the employee; ((and))
     (g) Coordinate participation of applicable employee assistance programs, as appropriate; and
     (h) Direct each agency to allow state employees, called to active duty with any branch of the United States military, to return to work with credit for the periodic increment date for that time served on active military duty. For purposes of this subsection (1)(h), "periodic increment date" has the same meaning as defined in WAC 357-28-050 as it exists on the effective date of this section.
     (2) The agency full-time equivalents necessary to implement the return-to-work program established under this section shall be used only for the purposes of the return-to-work program and the net increase in full-time equivalents shall be temporary.