HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5288

BYSenate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Smitherman, Halsan and Warnke)

Providing reimbursement for institutional care employees of the department of veterans affairs who are victims of assault.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Leonard, Moyer, Padden, H. Sommers, Sutherland, Wang and Winsley.

House Staff:John B. Welsh, Jr.  (786-7133)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 7, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In 1986 the legislature established a program for reimbursing institutional care employees of the Department of Social and Health Services for any lost wages or sick leave taken as a result of physical injuries sustained through assaults on these employees made by residents of state institutions.  In order to qualify for reimbursement, the assault must not be attributable to the employee's negligence, misconduct or failure to comply with conditions of employment; and the Department of Labor and Industries must approve the employee's application for compensation under the industrial insurance laws.  The employee is reimbursed in the following manner:  (1) the number of accumulated sick leave days to which the employee is entitled is not reduced by missed work days;  (2) the employee can receive full pay for any missed workday not compensated for under the industrial insurance laws; and (3) any level of compensation made under industrial insurance must be supplemented to the level of the employee's wages.

The reimbursement program is discretionary with the Secretary and limited to 365 days.  A similar compensation program was authorized for employees of the Department of Corrections in 1981.

SUMMARY:

Institutional care employees of the Department of Veteran Affairs who are victims of assault by residents of the state veterans homes are entitled to compensation under the program established for similar employees of the Departments of Social and Health Services and Corrections.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Mark Brown, Washington Federation of State Employees and Jan Bacon, Department of Veterans Affairs.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    There have been several instances of assault on employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs by residents of the state veterans homes.  The supplementary compensation program for institutional employees of the departments of Social and Health Services, and Corrections should apply to other institutional employees as well.  The often hazardous nature of the job puts institutional employees at risk and they should not have to shoulder the burdens by suffering loss of pay and personal sick leave.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.