History
History
The path to Paid Family and Medical Leave
2015: Governor Jay Inslee secured a federal grant to begin designing a paid family leave program.
2017: The Washington State Legislature approved Senate Bill 5975 during the 2017 legislative session. The new law went into effect on October 19, 2017.
- Final Bill Report
- Session Law
2020: The program is administered by the Employment Security Department. Eligible individuals began applying for benefits starting January 2020.
Research that informed the program
PowerPoint presentation: Findings from a Survey of Registered Voters Statewide
PowerPoint presentation: Washington Paid Leave Interviews with Employers
Report: Cost, Leave and Length Estimates Using Eight Different Leave Program Schemes for Washington
Report: Washington Paid Leave Preliminary Estimates
Report: Washington Paid Leave The Effect of State Paid Maternity Leave on SNAP and TANF