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Washington State Passes Family Leave Bill
8.6.07Olympia, WA – After several months of intense negotiations, compromise and some nail biting, a bill setting up a family leave program was signed into law on May 8th, 2007. Agreement on the landmark bill was reached last month as the Senate voted 26-21 on a compromise the House earlier approved by a 57-41 vote. The Paid Family Leave Bill is Senate Bill 5659. Washington will be just the second state to offer this benefit.
All employees in Washington State will be entitled to five weeks of paid leave to care for a new child, under this measure. This law will allow qualified employees – those who have worked at least 680 hours during their qualifying year – to take five weeks of leave for the birth of a child or placement of an adopted child. Benefits are capped at $250 a week and prorated for part-time employees. Worker protections are in place that are identical to those allowed under federal law for returning to the position held before leave. To be eligible, an employee must have worked for an employer for at least 1,250 hours in the previous 12 months. Employers with fewer than 25 employees are not required to offer job protection for an employee taking family leave.
The law also sets up a 13-member joint legislative task force charged with looking at program requirements and how they should be financed. Its report to the legislature is due Jan 1, 2008. Benefits start on Oct. 1, 2009. Funds to set up administration of the program will come from a loan from the Industrial Insurance Supplemental Pension Fund. Any funds loaned will be reimbursed, with interest, within two years.
A coalition of mothers and their supporters gave the measure much of its momentum this year. They sent more than 12,000 e-mails to lawmakers since the legislative session began in January, baked cookies for lawmakers and conducted rallies at the capital. “This is a giant step forward for Washington’s mothers, fathers, children and families,” said Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, co-founder of MomsRising.org, a national advocacy group whose symbol is “Rosie the Riveter” holding a baby. “We’re thrilled.”
California is currently the only state with paid family leave, but its law is much more expansive, with workers also allowed to take leave for their own health conditions and to care for ailing relatives. That stat’s measure pays 55% of a worker’s pay for six weeks, up to $882 a week.