SB 5430

SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5430

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 Senate Committee On:
Government Operations & Elections, January 29, 2007
Ways & Means, February 21, 2007

Title: An act relating to shared leave for state employees in the uniformed services.

Sponsors: Senators Hobbs, Fairley, Kilmer, Pridemore, Roach, Swecker, Shin, Benton, Rasmussen and Kohl-Welles; by request of Governor Gregoire.

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Oemig, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Kline, Pridemore and Swecker.

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, Fairley, Hatfield, Hewitt, Hobbs, Honeyford, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Oemig, Parlette, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Tom.

Background: In 2006, the Legislature enacted a sick leave pool for state employees. Under this program, which will begin July 1, 2007, state agencies may establish a voluntary sick leave pool, which participating employees may use if they have otherwise used all of their sick, vacation, or compensatory time.

Time from the sick leave pool may only be used for an employee's personal illness, accident, or injury. An employee may participate in the sick leave pool after one year of employment with the state, and an employee who cancels his or her participation in a sick leave pool may not withdraw the leave time he or she has contributed. Part-time employees may participate in sick leave pools on a pro-rata basis.

Summary of Bill: A uniformed services shared leave pool is created. The Military Department shall administer the pool in consultation with the Department of Personnel, and a uniformed services shared leave pool account is created in the custody of the state treasurer.

Under the program, any state employee who is called to service in the uniformed services may use leave from the pool, provided they meet the requirements of the state's existing leave sharing program. State employees currently eligible for the state's leave sharing program may contribute to the pool, except for employees of school districts and educational service districts.

Leave paid from the pool to an employee, in combination with the employee's military salary, may not exceed the employee's state monthly salary. An employee may take leave from the pool without recontributing it to the pool.

"Uniformed services" includes the armed forces, the state national guard, the commissioned corps of the public health service, the coast guard, and any other category of persons designated by the president of the United States in time of war or national emergency.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Government Operations & Elections): PRO: Washington National Guard soldiers are being called to serve on many fronts right now, both abroad and at home. On top of everything else, their service imposes a real financial burden. This will help them. A lot of state employees want to support our troops, and this gives them a good way to do it.

Persons Testifying (Government Operations & Elections): PRO: Senator Steve Hobbs, prime sponsor; Brigadier General Gordon Toney, Washington Military Department; Antonio Ginatta, Office of the Governor; Dennis Eagle, Washington Federation of State Employees.