Paid Family Leave | Policy and Legislation

Around the U.S.

California became the first state in 2004 to provide comprehensive paid family leave. Four other states provide paid disability and maternity leave for all workers within their borders. Efforts are underway in many states to expand family leave benefits, including Oregon, New Jersey, and New York.

Washington State

2008 - Family Leave Insurance

To ensure the Family Leave Insurance Program is ready to provide benefits in 2009, the Washington Legislature must take two actions in 2008: 1) Implement the recommendations of the Family Leave Insurance Task Force; and 2) Include $6.2 million for family leave start-up costs in the Supplemental Budget. These actions will save $5.2 million in one-time start-up costs and $1.7 million annually in on-going administrative costs.

In the long-run, dedicated funding for family leave could come from payroll tax, other taxes related to public health (such as a sales tax on candy and gum, or surcharges on soda pop or liquor), or a federal/state partnership as Congress moves forward with paid family leave.

Read more about Family Leave Insurance in the 2008 Legislature here.

2007 - Family Leave Insurance

Governor Chris Gregoire signed family leave insurance into law on May 8, 2007. Washington is the second state in the nation with paid family leave for all new parents. The new family leave program will provide up to 5 weeks of time off with a benefit of $250 for all parents taking leave from work to care for a newborn or newly adopted child.

Funding for the program will be decided by a taskforce, which must report by January 1, 2008. Key policy elements include coverage for all employees who have worked at least 680 hours in the previous year, job protection for workers in companies of more than 25 and a start-up date of October 1, 2009. | Read SB 5659 | Read HB 1658

Testimony:
  • L.W.: caring for spouse under California family leave program
  • Selena: caring for newborn
  • Justin: new dad
  • Nicole: new mom
  • Sean: caring for dying father
  • Meena Rishi, economics instructor, Seattle University
  • Professor Ellen Bravo, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, to Family and Medical Leave Insurance Work Session and Committee Hearings
  • Marilyn Watkins, Ph.D., Policy Director, Economic Opportunity Institute, to House Commerce and Labor Committee
  • Sharon Ness, RN, to House Commerce Labor Committee

2005 - Family and Medical Leave Act

The Washington Family and Medical Leave Act does not provide new rights, but ensures the continuation of protections workers and their families in Washington state now have under the federal FMLA. The Act guarantees: up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off to care for a new child, seriously ill child, spouse, or parent, or the worker's own serious health condition; job protection while on leave; availability to employees who have worked a full year and for at least 1250 hours (in companies with 50 or more workers or in public jobs); and preserves the definition of serious health condition and terms for use of intermittent leave currently in U.S. Department of Labor rules. | Read SB 6185 | Read HB 2392

Testimony

2001 - Family Care Act

Governor Gary Locke signed the Family Care bill into law on March 29, 2002. Employees in Washington state are entitled to use sick leave or other paid time off to care for an ill spouse, child under 18, disabled child over age 18, parent, parent-in-law, or grandparent. Washington's Family Leave Coalition worked hard for the bill's passage. | Read SB 6426 | Read HB 2364