FINAL BILL REPORT
SSB 5101
C 375 L 25
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Expanding access to leave and safety accommodations to include workers who are victims of hate crimes or bias incidents.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce (originally sponsored by Senators Valdez, Hansen, Frame, Hasegawa, Liias, Nobles, Orwall, Pedersen, Saldaña, Salomon, Stanford, Wellman and Wilson, C.).
Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards
Background:

Leave and Safety Accommodation.  Under the Domestic Violence Leave Act, an employee has the right to take reasonable leave from work to obtain assistance with respect to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.  A family member of a victim may also take reasonable leave.  Leave may be taken to:

  • address legal or law enforcement needs;
  • seek treatment for physical or mental injuries;
  • obtain mental health counseling;
  • obtain services from a shelter, center, or other social services program; or
  • participate in safety planning, relocate, or take other actions to increase safety.

 

An employer may not refuse to make a reasonable safety accommodation requested by a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer's business.  An accommodation may include a transfer, reassignment, or modified schedule.

 

An employer may require verification that the employee is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and that the leave or safety accommodation was for a permitted purpose.  

 

Discrimination.  An employer may not discriminate or retaliate against a person because the person is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Summary:

Leave and Safety Accommodation.  An employee may take reasonable leave from work or request a reasonable safety accommodation if the employee or the employee's family member is a victim of a hate crime.

 

An employer may require verification that the employee or family member is a victim of a hate crime and that the leave or safety accommodation was for a permitted purpose.  

 

Discrimination.  An employer may not discriminate or retaliate against a person because the person is a victim of a hate crime.

 

Definition.  Hate crime means an assault, damage or destruction of property, or threat committed because of a person's perception of another person's specified characteristics, including race, gender, or religion.  Hate crime includes offenses committed through online communication.

Votes on Final Passage:
Final Passage Votes
Senate 40 8
House 59 38
Effective:

January 1, 2026