Paid Family Leave – HB 2665 and SB 6280
HB 2665 and SB 6280 Paid Family Leave - The 2007 Legislature passed a state Paid Family Leave law that is available to all employees and that is scheduled to take effect in October 2009. But the 2007 Legislature failed to fund this new unemployment-like $250 weekly benefit for those taking this leave and set up a workgroup to recommend a funding source. That workgroup has made recommendations to fund this new leave temporarily from the state's general fund from general tax revenues. Expect new employee or employer taxes in the future to fund this leave. But the Paid Family Leave legislation has many other serious problems that will impact small businesses. IBA opposed the state Paid Family Leave legislation and will continue to do so, but it is unlikely that it can be repealed with the current makeup of the Legislature so IBA will also be working to minimize its impacts on small businesses.
You can view a copy of HB 2665 by clicking on the following link HB 2665 - 2007-08 (SB 6280 is the same language) You will need a pdf reader program on your computer to view HB 2665 and you can click on the following link to install a FREE pdf reader program on your computer http://www.ibaw.net/pdf/
IBA urges you to contact your legislators and express serious concerns about this legislation. Below is a sample letter that you can also use as the basis of a phone call. You can identify your legislators via the Internet at www.ibaw.net/findleg, or by calling 1-800-562-6000.
Draft Letter To
Your Representatives
Month xx, 2008
The Honorable ___full name___
House of Representatives
Re: HB 2665 – Paid Family Leave Act
Dear Representative ___last name______:
As a small business owner from ____city name_______, I oppose Paid Family Leave and I urge you to oppose Paid Family Leave. HB 2665 is designed to attempt to fix the 2007 Paid Family Leave legislation passed by the 2007 legislature. It fails to address the serious concerns of small businesses like mine. Concerns like how this new Paid Family Leave law interacts with the state’s unemployment law. It could cause sharp increases in my firm’s unemployment rates. How does this law interact with the state’s disability laws? How and I supposed to afford this new paid family leave law? It will impose significant new costs on my business simply trying to comply with these new leave requirements.
It is tough enough to make it in small business in today’s economy and laws like this Paid Family Leave law just make it tougher.
I urge you to add a small business exemption for firms with 25 or fewer employees to HB 2665 at a minimum.
Please advise us of your position on HB 2665.
Thank you,
Sign your name
Print your name
Business name (optional)
Mailing address
City, WA Zip
Phone number (optional)
Draft Letter To Your Senator
Date
The Honorable ___full name___
House of Representatives
Re: SB 6280 – Paid Family Leave Act
Dear Representative ___last name______:
As a small business owner from ____city name_______, I oppose Paid Family Leave and I urge you to oppose Paid Family Leave. SB 6280 is designed to attempt to fix the 2007 Paid Family Leave legislation passed by the 2007 legislature. It fails to address the serious concerns of small businesses like mine. Concerns like how this new Paid Family Leave law interacts with the state’s unemployment law. It could cause sharp increases in my firm’s unemployment rates. How does this law interact with the state’s disability laws? How and I supposed to afford this new paid family leave law? It will impose significant new costs on my business simply trying to comply with these new leave requirements.
It is tough enough to make it in small business in today’s economy and laws like this Paid Family Leave law just make it tougher.
I urge you to add a small business exemption for firms with 25 or fewer employees to SB 6280 at a minimum.
Please advise us of your position on SB 6280.
Thank you,
Sign your name
Print your name
Business name (optional)
Mailing address
City, WA Zip
Phone number (optional)