HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1028

As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to military leave for public employees.

Brief Description:  Revising the provision for military leave for public employees.

Sponsors:  Representatives Haigh, D. Schmidt, Romero, Conway, Kenney and Talcott.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

State Government:  1/24/01, 2/14/01 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/22/01, 98-0.

Passed Senate: 4/6/01, 44-0.

Passed Legislature.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Synchronizes the year in which state military leave is granted for members of the Washington National Guard with the military's fiscal year.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives McMorris, Republican Co‑Chair; Romero, Democratic Co‑Chair; Miloscia, Democratic Vice Chair; Haigh, Lambert, McDermott and D. Schmidt.

Staff:  Jim Morishima (786‑7191).

Background:

Members of the Washington National Guard are required to attend one drill weekend per month and one training period per year.  The annual training period usually lasts two weeks.  The national guard uses the military's fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30, for determining when the annual commitment must be served.  In other words, a member of the national guard must attend one annual training period per military fiscal year, instead of per calendar year.

State and local employees who are members of the national guard or reserves are entitled to 15 days of leave per calendar year to fulfill their service obligations.  This can lead to a situation where a member of the national guard does not have enough state leave to cover his or her service obligation.  For example, if a national guard member is called for his or her annual two‑week training period in January, the member will use up his or her state leave for the year.  However, since the military's fiscal year begins in October, the member could conceivably be required to fulfill another annual training period in October, November, or December before he or she gains another 15 days of state leave.

Summary of Bill:

The year in which state military leave is granted to members of the Washington National Guard and reserves is changed to October 1 through September 30.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on October 1, 2001.

Testimony For:  This is a technical fix to ensure that state employees who are members of the Washington National Guard are able to fulfill their service obligations.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Haigh, prime-sponsor.