Paid Family Leave
In 2007, the 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 IBA opposed the state Paid Family Leave legislation and will continue to do so, but it is unlikely that it can be repealed with the current makeup of the Legislature so IBA will also be working to minimize its impacts on small businesses.
So far, the 2008 Legislature has failed to act on any Paid Family Leave legislation for a number of political reasons.
Last Friday, February 15th, the state’s new revenue forecast was released and showed a reduction of projected state revenues of $423 million, putting the state into a budget shortage. Lawmakers cannot increase spending as they were planning to do, and still have a $1 billion revenue surplus in order to weather the current economic slowdown. Funding the Paid Family Leave program will require $6.3 million for the first half of 2009 and $71.6 for the balance of 2009 – 2011.
You are urged to call and write your legislators regarding the state’s Paid Family Leave law. Below are sample letters. You can identify your legislators and the phone numbers by going to www.ibaw.net/legfind or by calling 1-800-562-6000.
Sample Letter To
Your Representatives
Month xx, 2008
The Honorable ____________
House of Representatives
Re: Paid Family Leave
Dear Representative _________:
As a small business owner from ____city
name_______, I urge you to repeal or delay the implementation of the
state’s Paid Family Leave law. The
state’s revenue forecast is down sharply.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee six year
state spending forecast shows the 2009-11 Biennium at a $2.379 billion revenue shortfall,
and a 2011-13 Biennium at $5.084 billion revenue shortfall. Those are huge revenue shortfalls and they
must be minimized now by controlling state spending now.
Our business is having to cut back on spending due to the economic slowdown we are now in. The state must do the same. That’s why we are asking you to repeal or delay the implementation of the state’s Paid Family Leave law. We can’t afford this new law that is projected to require $6.3 million for the first half of 2009 and $71.6 for the balance of 2009 – 2011 in new state spending.
Please advise us of your position on repealing or delaying the state’s Paid Family Leave law.
Thank you,
Sign your name
Print your name
Business name (optional)
Mailing address
City, WA Zip
Phone number (optional)
Sample Letter To
Your Senator
Month xx, 2008
The Honorable ____________
Re: SB 6750 – Industrial Insurance Benefits During Appeal
Dear Senator _________:
As a small business owner from ____city
name_______, I urge you to repeal or delay the implementation of the
state’s Paid Family Leave law. The
state’s revenue forecast is down sharply.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee six year
state spending forecast shows the 2009-11 Biennium at a $2.379 billion revenue shortfall,
and a 2011-13 Biennium at $5.084 billion revenue shortfall. Those are huge revenue shortfalls and they
must be minimized now by controlling state spending now.
Our business is having to cut back on spending due to the economic slowdown we are now in. The state must do the same. That’s why we are asking you to repeal or delay the implementation of the state’s Paid Family Leave law. We can’t afford this new law that is projected to require $6.3 million for the first half of 2009 and $71.6 for the balance of 2009 – 2011 in new state spending.
Please advise us of your position on repealing or delaying the state’s Paid Family Leave law.
Thank you,
Sign your name
Print your name
Business name (optional)
Mailing address
City, WA Zip
Phone number (optional)