BILL REQ. #:  H-4447.1 

Read first time 01/20/10.   Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.

     AN ACT Relating to the granting of leave for legislative duties; and adding a new section to chapter 49.12 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 49.12 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any person elected to serve in the state legislature who leaves his or her employment to participate in a regular or special legislative session shall be granted a leave of absence from such employment for the duration of the regular or special legislative session. Upon return, such person shall be reinstated to his or her original position or similar position with equivalent pay and accumulated seniority, retirement, fringe benefits, and other service credits, unless the employer's circumstances have so changed as to make it impossible or unreasonable to do so. A person shall give notice in writing to his or her employer that he or she is a candidate for legislative office and may be absent during regular and special legislative sessions. This notice must be given by the employee in writing within thirty days after filing for legislative office.
     (2) This section does not apply to private employers with twenty-five or less employees.