Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Government Operations & Elections Committee

HB 2248

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.

Brief Description: Increasing the number of days allowed to accrue as unused annual leave.

Sponsors: Representatives Reykdal, S. Hunt, Ryu and Pollet.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Allows state employees to accrue up to 45 days of annual leave.

Hearing Date: 1/24/14

Staff: Marsha Reilly (786-7135).

Background:

State officers and employees are entitled to one day of paid vacation leave for each month of employment. In addition, an employee shall receive an additional day of paid annual leave for the first two, three, and five continuous years of employment respectively. Continuous part-time employees also are entitled to receive vacation leave on a fractional basis of hours worked.

Employees may accrue 30 days of unused vacation leave. Vacation leave must be taken at a time that is convenient to the employer. An employee's request for annual leave that is deferred for convenience of the employer must be extended for each month the leave is deferred. Employees transferring within state government are entitled to transfer accrued unused annual leave.

Under some state retirement systems, the calculation of the member's average earnable compensation must include eligible cash outs of annual leave of not more than 240 hours based on the member's salary and leave accumulations at the time of retirement.

Summary of Bill:

The number of hours of annual leave an employee may accrue is increased from 240 hours to 360 hours. The number of hours of annual leave allowed for purposes of cash outs and retirement calculations is not changed.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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