HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No.  HB 2038

Expanding when public employees may take leave.

Brief Title                               Hearing Date: 3/2/99

Reps. Murray and Anderson                  Staff: Steve Lundin

Sponsor(s)                          State Government Committee

                                              Phone:  786-7127

BACKGROUND:

The Washington Personnel Resources Board is authorized to establish rules for state civil service employees, whether employed by state agencies or institutions of higher education.

WAC 251-22-112 allows classified state agency employees to have one day of bereavement leave for each death of a family member or household member. Bereavement leave may be extended up to a maximum of three days with the approval of the employing official and personnel officer.

WAC 251-22-116 allows a classified state agency employee, under certain circumstances, to take up to 12 weeks of absence without pay to care for his or her parent, spouse, or child who has a serious health condition.

SUMMARY:

Any leave that is provided to classified employees for purposes of bereavement extends to bereavement for the death of domestic partners.  Any leave provided to classified employees to care for sick family members shall extend to care for sick domestic partners.

A domestic partner must be designated in writing by an employee to his or her employer, who meets each of the following:

CThe employee and domestic partner must have a close personal relationship where they are responsible for each other=s common welfare and have agreed to be jointly responsible for each other=s basic living expenses incurred during their domestic partnership.

CThe employee and domestic partner share the same regular address.

CThe employee and domestic partner are both at least eighteen years of age.

CThe employee and the domestic partner are not married to anyone.

CThe employee and designated domestic partner are not related by blood closer than would bar marriage in this state.

CThe employee and domestic partner were both mentally competent to consent to their domestic partnership when it began.

CAny prior domestic partnership in which the employee or the employee's domestic partner participated with another party was at least ninety days before the date the employee submits written notice to his or her employer identifying the person as his or her domestic partner.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.