Family and Medical Leave Insurance (2SSB 5659)

The Senate version of the family and medical leave insurance bill was further amended and passed out of the Ways & Means Committee on March 5 and is now in the Senate Rules Committee. The House bill was not acted upon by the Appropriations Committee and appears to be dead for the session.

This legislation would require all employees to pay a two-cent per hour premium for an insurance benefit that would pay $250 a week for up to five weeks of family leave, even if they already have a generous leave program or never use the benefit.

The second substitute version of the bill makes the deduction of the two cents per hour premium from employee wages mandatory, and states that loans from the supplemental pension fund to cover the initial costs of the program must be made before July 1, 2009 and repaid within one year. It also clarifies that if spouses or domestic partners are employed by the same employer, that employer may require that spouses or domestic partners not take leave concurrently.

City officials are asked to contact their senators as soon as possible expressing opposition to 2SSB 5659 and urging them keep the bill in the Rules Committee.

Definition of Disability (SHB 1322, SSB 5340)

Unfortunately, it appears this legislation is on a fast track. On March 8, SSB 5340 passed the Senate and SHB 1322 was made eligible to be voted on by the full House.

AWC opposes this legislation, which significantly expands the definition of disability in the Washington Law Against Discrimination. The proposed definition is so broad that it provides little guidance and will cause extreme uncertainty for employers trying to comply with the law.

AWC Priority
PERS Gain-Sharing (HB 1771/SB 5779)

A new gain-sharing proposal by Rep. Bill Fromhold (D-Vancouver) and Rep. Steve Conway (D-Tacoma) is currently under review for fiscal impacts, even though it has yet to be introduced as a bill.

Our understanding is that the proposal would limit gain-sharing eligibility to members hired prior to July 1, 2007, repeal gain-sharing after one additional distribution, provide an adjustment to the Plan 1 Uniform COLA Amount, and provide members of Plan 2 and 3 who have completed at least thirty years of service and are at least fifty-five years of age the ability to retire early with a reduction in the actuarial penalty.

We will provide more information about this proposal once the bill is introduced.

Presumptive Disease for Firefighters (SHB 1833)

SHB 1833 passed out of the House Commerce and Labor Committee and is now in the House Rules Committee. We remain opposed to the current version of this legislation, which adds more diseases and conditions to the statute regarding presumptive disease for firefighters, and changes the burden of proof required to rebut the presumption.

A second meeting with stakeholders was held on the morning of Friday, March 9. We will update you about any proposed changes to the bill in next week’s Bulletin.

Six-Year Collective Bargaining Agreements (ESB 5251)

ESB 5251, which allows local governments and their employees to agree to contract terms of up to six years, passed the Senate on March 8. It was amended on the floor to allow school districts to negotiate six-year contracts as well. The House Commerce & Labor Committee has scheduled a hearing on the bill for Thursday, March 15 at 8 am.

Local Government Contracts for Correctional Industries Services (SHB 1762)

SHB 1762 did not pass out of the House Appropriations Committee by last Monday so it appears to be dead for this session. It would have prohibited local governments from contracting for inmate labor with the Correctional Industries division of the State Department of Corrections if doing so would result in the termination of public employees or positions.

Certifying Unions Without an Election (SSB 5772/SHB 1913)

These bills would lower the threshold for certifying a union by signed authorization cards (rather than through an election) from 70% to a simple majority. SSB 5772 is in the Senate Rules Committee and SHB 1913 is on the House floor calendar and could be voted on at any time.

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