Paid Family Leave, Ending Youth Solitary Confinement, and Updating Background Checks

A Very Welcome Game-Changer for Working Families is Finally Here

To promote family stability and economic security, three years ago the Legislature passed the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.

The program, funded by a small premium paid by both employers and employees, allows qualifying workers to take paid leave to care for themselves or a family member, to bond with a new child, and for military families for certain service-connected events.

Employers began collecting premiums for the program last January and benefits began with the start of the new decade.

Here’s a quick overview of what you need to know about Washington’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Program:

  • Do I qualify? You do if you worked 820 hours in 2019.
  • When can I start applying? Right now! Benefits are available as of January 1, 2020.
  • How much time can I take? 12 weeks of paid leave a year for qualifying events, but it can be extended to up to 18 weeks in some cases. Important: you don’t have to take all your leave at once.
  • What’s a qualifying event?
    • Having a new baby or adopting a child
    • You or a family member has a serious illness or injury
    • A family member who is in the military is about to be deployed or has just returned from overseas deployment
  • How much do I get paid when I take paid leave? You could receive up to 90 percent of your weekly pay — up to a maximum of $1,000 a week
  • How much is this costing me? If you earn $50,000 a year, less than $2.50 is taken out of each paycheck

For more information, visit the Paid Family and Medical Leave website.

Ending Youth Solitary Confinement

Solitary confinement is harmful to youth. Across the country, states are taking action to limit or end the practice. Studies show that it is emotionally harmful, psychologically damaging and counterproductive. That’s why I’m supporting HB 2277 to prohibit the use of solitary confinement for juveniles and dramatically limit the use of room confinement or isolation, ensuring a focus on evidence-based and effective forms of rehabilitation.

Bi-partisan Background Check Legislation Heard in Committee

Bi-partisan legislation to create a single point of contact background check system had a hearing in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on Friday, January 18. HB 2467 will direct the Washington State Patrol to set up a background check system through which all firearms background checks in the state will be processed. Establishing a single point of contact background check system has a number of benefits. Centralizing background checks with WSP frees up resources for local law enforcement organizations that up until now had been responsible for running background checks. It also creates greater consistency in staff training and resources. Crucially it lessens the risk of prohibiting information from local sources slipping through the cracks.

Besides the public safety benefits, the system was necessitated by an FBI policy change stating that only law enforcement organizations can interact with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Creating a single point of contact system will speed up and simplify the background check process. The new system can be set up and paid for with a per background check fee of around $20. This legislation is the result of a study by the Washington State Statistical Analysis Center which was ordered by a 2019 bill sponsored by Rep. Drew Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island) and Rep. Morgan Irwin (R-Enumclaw).

Look for more updates coming soon and please reach out if you have questions, comments, or ideas.

All best wishes,

Roger Goodman
Representative, 45th District
Washington State Legislature