SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1625
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs, February 17, 2022
Title: An act relating to specifying that space force reserve members who are officers or employees of the state of Washington or of any county, city, or other political subdivision have access to a period of paid military leave of absence from employment.
Brief Description: Specifying that space force reserve members who are officers or employees of the state of Washington or of any county, city, or other political subdivision have access to a period of paid military leave of absence from employment.
Sponsors: Representatives Bronoske, Leavitt, Boehnke, Sells, Graham, Santos, Slatter, Griffey and Young.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/9/22, 95-1.
Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs: 2/16/22, 2/17/22 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Extends access to paid military leave to public employee members of the United States Space Force.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Conway, Vice Chair, Labor; Stanford, Vice Chair, Commerce & Tribal Affairs; King, Ranking Member; Braun, Robinson, Saldaña and Schoesler.
Staff: Jarrett Sacks (786-7448)
Background:

State Paid Military Leave.  An officer or employee of the state or local government, who is a member of the Washington National Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps Reserves of the United States or of any organized reserve or armed forces of the United States, is entitled to 21 days of paid military leave from employment each year.  The leave is granted so the person may report for required military duty, training, or drills, and is in addition to any vacation or sick leave. 

 

Space Force.  The United States Space Force (USSF) was established in 2019 as a branch of the United States Armed Forces.  The USSF's duties include protecting national interests in space, deterring aggression in, from, and to space, and conducting space operations. 
Summary of Bill:

State and local government employees and officers that are members of the United States Space Force are entitled to paid military leave.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  This bill is proactive rather than reactive.  When a reserve component is established for the Space Force by the federal government, the bill makes clear they will be eligible for paid military leave.  The bill provides clarity for public employers.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Dan Bronoske, Prime Sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.