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Article: Washington passes paid family leave.(TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS)
- Article from:
- State Legislatures
- Article date:
- July 1, 2007
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 National Conference of State Legislatures. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Family leave laws have been a blessing for families welcoming a new child or dealing with an illness. The downside is that many families aren't in a financial position to allow them to take time off without pay. With the enactment of Senate Bill 5659 in April, Washington became the second state to establish a paid family leave program, joining California, which passed a paid leave law in 2002.
Washington's new law is a partial-wage replacement insurance program. The law provides for up to five weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child. The maximum weekly benefit is $250 a week, with pro-rated benefits available for part-time employees. The law ...