November 22, 2002
Hearings scheduled for Family Care Act rules
TUMWATER - The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) will hold hearings next month on proposed rules that more broadly define the circumstances in which employees may use paid leave to care for a family member with a health condition.
In 2002, the state Legislature amended the Family Care Act, effective Jan. 1, 2003, to allow the use of earned paid leave - i.e., sick or vacation leave - to care for a spouse, parent, parent-in-law or grandparent with a serious or emergency health condition, or an adult child with a disability who requires medical treatment. Before the amendments, employees could use sick leave to care only for children under 18, a provision which remains unchanged.
The proposed rules will formally define the additional family members to be covered under Family Care laws. Also, the rules will specify that all paid leave - not just sick leave - can be used in these situations.
The hearings, both at 1 p.m., will be:
- Dec. 2, L&I building, 7273 Linderson Way S.W., Tumwater.
- Dec. 3, Yakima School District Administration Offices, 104 N. Fourth Ave., Yakima.
Written comments must be received by Dec. 3. They may be e-mailed to swaj235@LNI.wa.gov, faxed to 360-902-5292, or mailed to: Josh Swanson, Specialty Compliance Services Division, P.O. Box 44400, Olympia, WA 98504-4400.
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