Paid family leave now in hands of House

State's senators pass bill 32-17

By RACHEL LA CORTE | The Associated Press • Published March 15, 2007

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Workers would receive five weeks of paid family leave to care for a new child or a sick parent under a measure passed Wednesday by the state Senate, with supporters saying it was a win for families and opponents saying it would add an unnecessary tax on workers.

"It seems to me that Washington workers shouldn't have to choose between their families and their jobs," said Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, and the main sponsor of the measure, which passed 32-17. "It's important that workers have that flexibility so that they can have healthy families."

The bill now goes to the House. If it passes there and is signed into law, Washington and California will be the only two states with paid-family-leave measures on the books. New Jersey and Massachusetts are considering similar measures, according to the National Partnership for Women & Families.

The measure would give workers up to five weeks of paid family leave each year. Originally, the bill would have allowed workers to use the time as personal sick leave, but a replacement bill offered on the floor removed that language.

The paid-leave program would take effect in 2009, and weekly payments initially would be $250 but would rise with inflation each year thereafter.

Employees would pay 2 cents an hour, deducted from their paychecks by their employers.

The measure also would require employers to hold workers' jobs open while they are on leave, although an amendment would exempt small businesses from that requirement.

Another amendment would provide a tax credit for small businesses that hire replacement workers for those taking leave.

Under federal law, paid leave is not required, but businesses with 50 or more employees must give workers up to 12 weeks of medical leave per year for themselves or to take care of an ailing relative.

The Office of Financial Management was working Wednesday to calculate the bill's cost to the state after the amendments. The initial fiscal note attached to the measure pegged its cost at nearly $200 million for the 2011-2013 biennium.

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