OLYMPIA — Nearly two years after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Washington Senate on Tuesday approved a measure that authorizes legislative leaders to terminate an emergency after 90 days if the Legislature is not in session. Senate Bill 5909 passed the Democrat-led chamber on a 29-20 vote and now heads to ...
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Week Five – February 7-13
We are now five weeks into session with only four more weeks to go. February 7, was the House of Origin Fiscal Committee cutoff when all bills needed to be voted out of their fiscal committees to stay alive. Following last Monday’s cutoff, legislators have been on the floor passing bills out of their respective chambers. ...Read MoreOne of Washington’s most popular new family support programs, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, is facing serious problems. Employers are supporting a bill by Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, that will help stabilize this important benefit for workers and their families in Washington.
In 2017 the Legislature passed the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFML), one of the first ...
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A majority of Washington health care workers report feeling burned out in the pandemic, according to the latest survey. Now, legislation aims to address their concerns by ensuring safe staffing levels, as well as rest and meal breaks.
Companion bills in the state House and Senate create staffing ratios for different departments within a hospital. They also repeal certain exemptions ...
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PFML has improved the health and economic resilience of Washington families
Washington launched its new Paid Family & Medical Leave program (PFML) in January 2020, just weeks before the first U.S. COVID case was first identified in the state. That timing turned out to be fortuitous. PFML has helped keep Washington families financially afloat, improved health, and relieved stress during the ...
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SB 5751, HB 1868 would protect healthcare workers, improve care for patients, and begin to address the staffing crisis.
SEATTLE (Jan. 11, 2022) — Members of the WA Safe + Healthy coalition on Monday applauded legislative champions led by Sen. June Robinson (D-Everett) and Rep. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) for introducing bipartisan legislation to create new safe staffing standards for hospitals in ...
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