The family and family leave insurance bill established a program requiring employers to provide paid leave to parents of newborns or newly adopted children. The law mandates a maximum of five weeks of paid leave for taking care of a new baby or new adopted child for qualified employees. To qualify, an employee will need to have a certain number of hours with the company and to have worked there for at least a year. Employees who worked 35 hours a week or more at the time the leave begins will receive $250 per week, with prorated payment for those with shorter schedules.

Sen. Karen Keiser, a Democrat representing 33rd Legislative District who was the primary legislation sponsor, said she’s been working on the idea for many years. The bill was heavily criticized by business groups such as the Association of Washington Business. Keiser, however, points out the new law is an insurance program and the benefit itself will not come out of the business’ pockets. The original bill proposed taxing companies 1 cent per hour per employee, which amounts to under $21 a year for each full-time worker. With that provision stricken out of the final bill as part of the House vote, the task force will now decide on a financing mechanism.

“It’s not my intention in any way to impose the burden on businesses,” Keiser said.

The leave benefit will become effective in October 2009, with the program itself effective January 2009, so the financing will be in place by the time leave is granted. The task force, according to Keiser, who is one of the members, will report its findings back to the Legislature next January. The group will include six lawmakers; four appointed members representing big business, small business, labor and family leave advocacy; and one unspecified person appointed by the governor.

Keiser said the most logical agency to administer the program, in her view, is Labor and Industries but noted that has been a point of contention for some people.

Keiser, who this year was the chair of Senate’s Health and Long-Term Care Committee and vice chair of Labor Commerce Research and Development, feels the requirement is not only critical for the well-being of newborn babies and their parents, but will also help with employee retention and productivity in the long term.

“It’s an issue for working families because they have to balance their jobs and their families… So many moms and dads feel pressured to return to work too soon (after a new child),” she said.

She points out that the issue of paid family leave is gaining momentum nationwide, and although Washington is only the second state to enact such a law, others are in various stages of discussing the issue.

“We are the only developed country that doesn’t offer this kind of paid leave,” she said, adding that often times the states are the driving force behind congressional legislation. She uses the minimum wage law as an example, saying, “It took 30 states to pass their own laws before Congress finally passed a national one.”.