Washington State legislature passes paid family (really parental) leave act

Washington is now only the second state in the United States to provide for paid family leave – the other state is California.  Under the recently enacted Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5659,  employees will be able to apply to the state for up to two hundred and fifty dollars per week in wage replacement benefits for parental leaves of absence lasting up to five weeks.  Such paid leave becomes available October 1, 2009.  Leave is available for bonding with a newborn or newly placed adopted child.

The enacted bill is less comprehensive than a prior version that would have in addition provided paid leave for the employee's serious health condition or for the serious health condition of a family member.  It also leaves unresolved how the paid parental leave will be funded.  The enacted bill simply establishes a task force charged with determining the most appropriate method of financing and administering the paid leave program.  The task force is required to report to the legislature by January 1, 2008.