HB 3077

HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 3077

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:
State Government & Tribal Affairs

Sponsors: Representatives Liias, Armstrong, Appleton, Hunt, O'Brien, Green, Rodne, Ericks, Miloscia, Williams, Simpson and Hasegawa.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 8 members: Representatives Hunt, Chair; Appleton, Vice Chair; Chandler, Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Liias, Miloscia and Ormsby.

Background:

Employees may donate accrued leave to a fellow state employee who is suffering from, or has a relative or household member suffering from, an extraordinary or severe illness or impairment which may cause the employee to take leave without pay or terminate employment. Additionally, state agencies may create sick leave pools for employees who have used all their sick, annual, and compensatory leave.

The Department of Personnel also maintains the Uniformed Service Shared Leave Pool to allow employees to donate leave to be used as shared leave for any employee who has been called to service in the uniformed services and who meets statutory requirements.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The substitute bill clarifies that leave may be transferred into an agency sick leave pool in which the transferring employee participates; it also provides that for those employees whose agency does not maintain a sick leave pool, unused leave transfers to the Uniform Services Shared Leave Pool.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

Employees who donated leave to another employee under statutory leave sharing provisions can choose to have any unused leave transferred to a sick leave pool in which they participate rather than having the leave returned.

With respect to annual leave that is lost because the employee exceeded the maximum of 240 hours and did not otherwise save it under the rules, the unused leave is split between the Uniformed Service Shared Leave Pool and a sick leave pool in which the employee losing the leave participates. If the employee does not participate in a sick leave pool, all unused leave transfers to the Uniformed Service Shared Leave Pool.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The purpose of this bill is to provide a service to state employees who need leave due to illness, military service, or other reasons by allowing otherwise unused leave to be pooled in either an agency sick leave pool or the Uniformed Service Shared Leave Pool.

(With concerns) Agencies were recently authorized by the Legislature to establish sick leave pools for employees who may need additional leave. It is not clear which agencies have exercise this authority, so the DOP would request some technical amendments for clarification.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Liias, prime sponsor.

(With concerns) Andy Colvin, Department of Personnel.