Economic Opportunity Institute
Policy and Legislation
National
Healthy Families Act, U.S. Senate | Read SB 1085
Washington State
2006
Bills to establish minimum standards of paid sick leave were introduced in the 2006 Washington State Legislature, sponsored by Senator Karen Keiser and Representative Mary Lou Dickerson. Provisions included:
- Minimum standard of 10 days or 80 hours of paid sick leave annually
- Pro-rated for part-time workers
- Available for worker illness, doctor visits, and family illness
- Employers meeting or exceeding the standards would not need to change their policies
- Employers can require medical certification of health conditions
Legislative hearings were held on the minimum paid sick leave bill on January 30. Unfortunately, neither the House or Senate committee acted on the sick leave bill before the cut off for policy bills. Expect to see the bill back again another year. | Read SB 6592 | Read HB 2777
Testimony
- Amy Hagopian, MHA, Ph.D., Faculty, School of Public Health at the University of Washington
- Marilyn Watkins, Ph.D., Policy Director, Economic Opportunity Institute
- Lynn B. Wirta, Executive Director, Small Faces Child Development Center
2003
Bills to establish minimum standards of paid sick leave were introduced in the 2003 Washington State Legislature, sponsored by Senator Karen Keiser and Representative Mary Lou Dickerson. | Read HB 1221 | Read SB 5377