Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
State Government & Tribal Relations Committee |
SB 6123
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: Allowing state employee leave for organ donation.
Sponsors: Senators Hunt, Kuderer, Nguyen, Stanford, Van De Wege, Wilson, C. and Sheldon.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/20/20
Staff: Carrington Skinner (786-7192).
Background:
The Governor has issued an executive order that permits executive agency employees to take paid leave of up to five days in a two-year period for participating in certain life-giving procedures, including blood and organ donation. That executive order is reflected in a rule adopted by the Office of Financial Management that also permits employers to grant paid leave for an employee to engage in civil duties as a volunteer, which may include donating blood, as well as firefighting and participating in search and rescue efforts.
Executive agency employees of the federal government may receive 30 days of paid leave for organ donation and seven days for bone marrow donation.
Summary of Bill:
Executive agency employees may take paid leave to participate in life-giving procedures. A life-giving procedure is a medically supervised procedure that involves the testing, sampling, or donation of organs, tissues, and other human body components for the purposes of donation to a person or organization for medically necessary treatments without compensation. It does not include blood or plasma donation.
Leave for life-giving procedures may not exceed 30 days in a two-year period, and may not be charged against an employee's annual or sick leave. Agencies may consider programs and staffing in scheduling the leave, and employees may be required to provide reasonable advance notice. Collective bargaining agreements covering leave usage must be taken into account when agencies plan for and grant life-giving procedure leave.
Employees must provide written proof from a medical institution or professional that the employee participated in a life-giving procedure. The granting of life-giving procedure leave does not create an entitlement or right that can be converted to compensation
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.