Family and Medical Leave Insurance (E2SSB 5659)

The House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on E2SSB 5659 on March 28. It was apparent some legislators on the Committee were uncomfortable with the cost of this legislation, and there was talk of tacking on a referendum clause to send the issue to the voters for approval. On March 31, the Committee amended the bill to remove all of the specifics of the family and medical leave insurance program, leaving only the intent section.

The bill now simply declares the intention of the Legislature to establish a program that allows parents to bond with a new child and workers to care for seriously ill family members by providing income support while an individual is on leave.

Supporters of the bill are working to find a compromise measure that could garner enough support to pass before the end of the session.

AWC has opposed this legislation because it conflicts and overlaps with other federal and state laws and local leave policies. If this bill is advanced, the Legislature should consider opt-out provisions for employers who already offer more generous leave benefits for their employees.

Presumptive Disease for Firefighters (ESHB 1833)

ESHB 1833 is still in the Senate Rules Committee. As mentioned in last week’s Bulletin, the current version of the bill is a definite improvement over the original proposal. However, we still believe it is too broad and remain opposed to the bill.

Cities concerned about this expansion of the presumptive disease law for firefighters are urged to contact their senators asking them to oppose ESHB 1833.

Definition of Disability (SSB 5340)

The bill, which significantly expands the definition of disability in the Washington Law Against Discrimination, is now on the House floor calendar. We are actively working with others on significant amendments aimed at narrowing the bill’s scope, which we hope will be favorably considered when the bill is brought up for a vote.

Six-Year Collective Bargaining Agreements (ESB 5251)

ESB 5251 passed the House on April 4 by a vote of 70 to 26. Since the House passed the same version of the bill that cleared the Senate, ESB 5251 will soon be on its way to the Governor’s desk for signature. This legislation allows local governments and their employees to agree to contract terms of up to six years, instead of the current three-year maximum term.

AWC Priority
PERS Gain-Sharing (HB 1771/SB 5779, HB 2391)

Both the House and the Senate budget proposals assume passage of HB 2391, so it appears likely this is the approach the Legislature will take to address the gain-sharing issue. The bill eliminates gain-sharing after one additional disbursement and provides additional replacement benefits, including a better early retirement option for members of PERS 2 and PERS 3.

Dead Personnel Bills

Two House bills we reported on in prior Bulletins did not make it out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee by last Monday’s cutoff and are considered dead for the session.

HB 1127 would have increased the number of paid days of military leave for public employees from 15 to 30.
HB 1824 would have allowed survivors of pre-LEOFF firefighters killed in the line of duty or retired because of a duty-related disability to remarry without losing their survivor pension benefits.