[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6116342,"mediaKeyId","2733295-d4bdfe4f158a2b7cdcad1820633cae98","parentId",2733295,"title","Committee hears bill to extend Domestic Violence Leave Act protections to hate-crime victims","audioSeconds",4555,"startMs",46934,"endMs",4602905,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2733295-d4bdfe4f158a2b7cdcad1820633cae98&start=46&end=4602","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2733295-d4bdfe4f158a2b7cdcad1820633cae98/thumbnail_46934.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6116342/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-extend-Domestic-Violence-Leave-Act-protections-to-hate-crime-victims","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116342-63fb1229c4cbbf2b43ee4f04f6ef38a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447602&Signature=NYOMeX1M2m0UJBHWePo49k8Kk8yRmUCSA6rE5WFW3JUTljizXr2ynm3-ROrih9XBFnNkWFDymIRBpipMFH1qQqKRqPPMqwOpPyvoOn~6b4lAw2fsN2Fg7daDPbLP5zYudgT55iEi10Qg54pxp2H55w7YHomfGEFuE0YL4XdXsDixVCiFHox8h~D3PZTeLiQLgTZrkTfFZNAPS8eRC6-VmhrowgjouDryIf-KdJdecFXUDz5KFtIvl4ToppRmkchGh9C4EW-CXnPq8DbQXz~i0Ii~La027vOX9bYeMEHXTY9~Y2fsVKY-w3Bi3sU88O2IdW3lU2p~uPjkyQxhDQ821w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Labor & Workplace Standards","date","2025-03-21T00:00:00Z","article","A House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee staffer briefed members Friday on substitute Senate Bill 5101, which would expand the state’s Domestic Violence Leave Act to let employees who are victims of hate crimes — and certain family members — take reasonable leave or request safety accommodations.

Ben McCarthy, committee staff, said, “This bill expands the protections of the Domestic Violence Leave Act to employees who are, or whose family members are victims of hate crimes.” The existing act allows leave for domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking and permits verification through a police report, protection order, documentation from a victim advocate, an attorney, clergy or medical professional, or an employee’s written statement; leave may be paid or unpaid and an employer may require verification for permitted purposes.

The bill would add victims of hate crimes to the list of qualifying reasons for leave and extend the act’s anti-discrimination protections so an employer may not discriminate against someone who is, or is perceived to be, a victim of a hate crime.

Why it matters: Supporters said hate crimes produce distinctive psychological harms tied to a victim’s identity and often require time for medical care, counseling, safety planning, relocation, or to pursue justice. Opponents and some civil-rights advocates urged clearer verification language to reduce the risk of weaponized or false claims.

Senator Javier Valdez, the bill’s prime sponsor, described prior legislative efforts on hate-crime reporting and the recent hotline pilot and framed the measure as a gap-filler: it would “ensure that folks have that opportunity and avenue to take that leave, should they be in that unfortunate space to be a victim of a hate crime.”

Proponents during the public hearing included Mary Cypress, regional director, Anti-Defamation League Pacific Northwest, who said, “Hate crimes are unique because they leave a psychological effect following an attack on an individual's identity,” and Christophe Mayor, policy coordinator, Washington State Labor Council, who said the bill “does not require victims of hate crimes to engage with the criminal legal system to access safe leave.” Gabrielle Newman of GSBA and Cindy Sandino Chang of Seattle’s Crime Survivor Services also testified in support, pointing to increased incidents and the need for time to attend medical and court appointments.

Some advocacy groups asked for narrower verification language. Sabrine O'Day of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said the bill as drafted “is problematic” because it could allow verification by “any professional or individual or self reporting,” and she warned of swatting, doxing and false accusations that have affected some Muslim community members. Angelique Rodriguez of Care Washington urged amendments so that “workers [cannot] claim leave based on alleged hate crimes even if the incident doesn't meet the legal definition of a hate crime under state law.”

The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which helped draft the original domestic-violence leave law, urged caution about narrowing verification options, arguing survivor-centered flexibility is needed and that survivors’ needs and reporting choices vary.

The committee suspended the public hearing on SB 5101 at the end of the panel. No final committee action on the bill was taken at this meeting.

What’s next: Committee staff said the hearing would be deferred for committee consideration; sponsors and stakeholders indicated they had negotiated language in other settings and would continue to refine verification and survivor-centered provisions.

Ending note: Testimony reflected broad support for expanding access to leave coupled with requests for clearer verification standards to limit the risk of misuse while preserving options for victims who do not report to law enforcement.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Labor & Workplace Standards -03/21/2025 10:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","A House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee staffer briefed members Friday on substitute Senate Bill 5101, which would expand the state’s Domestic Violence Leave Act to let employees who are victims of hate crimes — and certain family members — take reasonable leave or request safety accommodations.","taxTitle","Labor & Workplace Standards, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20266,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6116332,"Committee advances bill allowing up to 12 weeks of UI for striking workers after debate and failed amendments",1988,892120,2880955,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2733295-d4bdfe4f158a2b7cdcad1820633cae98&start=892&end=2880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2733295-d4bdfe4f158a2b7cdcad1820633cae98/thumbnail_892120.jpg","/articles/6116332/Washington/Committee-advances-bill-allowing-up-to-12-weeks-of-UI-for-striking-workers-after-debate-and-failed-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116332-f0c4e8eed2a69ea2a0989549a16506f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447602&Signature=XgIS-lU-8R97OpTirmyIGCaefWTE9ZhAdxusO4MdmUAFKeFE4uurTQhLIVL29cvJFJL0I3m4R4uIKzPWgbebuG5Uph08fU2RD6Y-G4Xg0asmdE1pMwc9p3YeMCE1DaQqVgaJxp~v23qdM1tdYbEZrGB1OQyAdJKlLoofU7S-sRfs5zjteYMzOCyVgYYbYCy~zzmbD-QWKIvGOLrLJOqo9-JfE30t2jAE8cCaeoeTZdZlcQ3i58waWQsYlyqUtBK~j2SKcss-UCuAONZM37O2-bGOplpHXIZgINJtQM6NYABq~fRNfjDEqcf-YoM7vnsAWaUjZKKu~yOWTT9NQ9vqaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee reported out engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5041 on Friday after lengthy debate and multiple failed amendment attempts. The bill would allow individuals unemployed due to a labor strike to receive up to 12 weeks of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits following a specified disqualification period from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2035; it also removes a disqualification for an employer-initiated lockout in certain circumstances.

Several amendments were offered and voted on during executive session. Ranking Member Schmidt moved an amendment (Leon 148) to maintain a disqualification where a court issues an order or judgment finding a strike is prohibited (replacing the bill’s ‘‘final judgment’’ language); that amendment failed. Leon 149 (also from Schmidt), which would have excluded state and local government employees from eligibility for strike-related UI, failed. Representative McIntyre’s Leon 145, which sought to reduce the maximum weeks available from 12 to 4, failed. Leon 146 (McIntyre) would have prohibited the Employment Security Department (ESD) from waiving standard UI eligibility requirements for striking workers (including actively seeking suitable work); it also failed. Leon 150 would have required a study by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) on risks to students if teachers were to strike for the maximum weeks and delayed the bill’s effective date; that amendment failed. Leon 147 would have made the bill effective only after the UI trust fund met a 24-month solvency threshold; it also failed.

Arguments: Supporters including Vice Chair Scott framed the bill as a pro-worker policy that helps workers who face economic hardship while exercising concerted bargaining rights; he said, “Extending unemployment insurance benefits to striking workers is good policy because it's good for working people.” Opponents, led in debate by Ranking Member Schmidt and Representative McIntyre, warned of major costs to employers and the state trust fund if large strikes materialized — citing the Boeing machinists walkout as an example — and raised concerns about public-safety and K‑12 impacts. Schmidt said the amendment to rely on injunctions rather than final judgments was necessary because “a final judgment isn't something that normally or usually or even seldom happens.” McIntyre argued the bill could reduce pressure to return to bargaining if workers had 12 weeks of benefits.

Vote: On final passage in committee the motion to report the bill out with a due-pass recommendation carried. The roll call showed 6 ayes and 3 nays (6–3). The committee declined all offered amendments.

What’s next: The bill moves to the next stage of the legislative process with the committee’s due-pass recommendation; sponsor and opponents acknowledged remaining policy disputes, and several members said fiscal impacts should be monitored.

","The House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee voted Friday to report out engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5041, which would allow up to 12 weeks of unemployment insurance for workers out on strike from 2026 through 2035, after rejecting multiple amendments.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6116337,"Committee hears PERC changes; public employers raise concerns about settlement-waiver ban",4828,472715,5300715,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2733295-d4bdfe4f158a2b7cdcad1820633cae98&start=472&end=5300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2733295-d4bdfe4f158a2b7cdcad1820633cae98/thumbnail_472715.jpg","/articles/6116337/Washington/Committee-hears-PERC-changes-public-employers-raise-concerns-about-settlement-waiver-ban","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116337-909b55f146565ba90cf02f8e89384d02/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447602&Signature=JX94fgUf~ibxmrOUpC7ADW2XZYsXl3EfjF7y0Tx94A0cHkFOF0U04yEKXjXe8pO6OcdNFhZip7dGf4k7PBEdGLjHI0VmZD6rRX0uqNysSSb0d5bPTWA96QC2OZRjTHFI7jugCFlULqpzA~qMEBABpujpTLJ~19rOOyKXPbR8gBClhsLOP24ewI7e16wGaQdyw83sklqzaabS5nUsX~d3OXSa-0J4Nk3fj5JKUCZqYFbZSzyWJxx5SeEjL-w54Avf4UK5nF-~4uUx-6~vPQbPzjZE6hfr5ywvrUNHikIqPzn3lNESvJXPnMETJLk6Vr3C1eqkcaakXuAuXDRVhHwbkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A committee briefing Friday described substitute Senate Bill 5503, which makes multiple changes to the Public Employment Relations Commission’s (PERC) procedures, from bargaining-unit certification to adjudicative hearings and subpoena enforcement.

Ben McCarthy, committee staff, outlined six changes in the bill: updates to challenges to employee eligibility in bargaining units (including a required offer of proof for challenges), new steps when a petition for a new unit is inappropriate, a standardized process for consolidating units represented by a single organization, authority for PERC hearing officers to set hearing dates unilaterally (with motions allowed to change dates), authority to draw adverse inferences from refusal to comply with subpoenas, and a prohibition on public employers requiring workers to waive statutory claims under state or federal law as a condition of settling grievances.

Sponsor Senator Javier Valdez described the bill as modernizing older procedures and said stakeholders had agreed to language changes in the Senate: he said PERC had been effective in past representation matters and the bill “make[s] it easier to get a hearing date scheduled, and I think provide some greater authority to merge your units if PERC deems appropriate.”

Why it matters: Labor unions said the bill addresses practices that delay grievance resolution and can pressure workers to give up statutory claims. Employers and local-government associations warned one provision (section 4) would discourage settlements and create duplicative litigation risks, and several speakers asked for clarifying amendments.

Labor testimony: Dane Ostering of SEIU 1199 Northwest described section 4 as central, saying, “Section 4 prohibits public employers from requiring workers to waive their state or federal rights in a grievance settlement agreement.” Samantha Grama of Teamsters Local 117 gave a case example in which a worker had to choose between a grievance settlement and pursuing a racial-discrimination lawsuit; she said the employee “was forced to set down the grievance and go with the racial discrimination case.” Melissa Staples, a bargaining representative and nurse, described grievances delayed for months and employer demands that employees withdraw administrative complaints as conditions for settlement.

Employer testimony and concerns: Candace Bach of the Association of Washington Cities and James Coburn of the Washington Public Ports Association said the settlement-waiver prohibition would prevent efficient, voluntary resolutions and could increase legal costs; Doug Morrill of Summit Law Group said the provision “would be a major impediment for employers to settle” and could produce more adjudicative hearings. Paul Jewell of the Washington State Association of Counties voiced similar objections. Sherry Sawyer of the Office of Financial Management said stakeholders were discussing language changes and that she believed proponents and the sponsor were close to agreed amendments.

Committee process and status: Union proponents and several public employers said they had been negotiating possible language changes; committee staff said a revised draft would be circulated. No final committee vote was taken on SB 5503 at this meeting.

Ending note: The hearing highlighted a central policy tension: preventing employers from conditioning settlements on workers’ surrender of statutory claims, versus preserving the ability of parties to reach voluntary, efficient settlements without unintended litigation or administrative burdens.","A committee briefing Friday described substitute Senate Bill 5503, which makes multiple changes to PERC procedures — from bargaining-unit certification rules to adjudicative hearing authority — and adds a ban on conditioning grievance settlements on workers’ waiver of statutory claims.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6116327,"Votes at a glance: committee reports seven bills out with due-pass recommendations",2557,1204505,3762045,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2733295-d4bdfe4f158a2b7cdcad1820633cae98&start=1204&end=3762","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2733295-d4bdfe4f158a2b7cdcad1820633cae98/thumbnail_1204505.jpg","/articles/6116327/Washington/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-reports-seven-bills-out-with-due-pass-recommendations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6116327-c325337c7b771dfbcfd2cd471b0793e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447602&Signature=dsHTlCWHIBheqTeF-3o4Sto2n59vsJMFoxC4iNd4Cf2PKTS7ahB~0TA~HMFbYhiREmvh~M71rDeywRKFMJPdvyd1XlpHk6syrK77Af-WxTIU0QPtB9s3MAq3jhyYKuhWPR5He-diZeWV3JRcKK~fbAHMxsCEKanYxUarA2yqloKlPlcnkYYNRvjX-fpVVSPjxpgVhHno6d7SGRSGPrn6oblVOG1N~utEzTby73U5XPDLNJXOnV8lcbTAN2Hx-wIjX8uOIV5rGg6IUg2u~AL7xa0P2Jacr2mB1SA~dTMvew0UbNLqUlDShg6MNOG5qvT81q72XGB0vw0NrViaGSUEHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee took executive-session action Friday and reported several Senate bills out of committee with due-pass recommendations. Below are the bills the committee acted on, a short description drawn from staff briefings, and the committee vote recorded in the transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Substitute Senate Bill 5040 — \"Interest arbitration for law enforcement officers in small towns, cities, counties and municipal airports.\" Reported out with a due-pass recommendation. Roll-call: 6 ayes, 3 nays. (Ayes: Berry, Fosse, Scott, Bernofsky, Opress, Ortiz Self; Nays: Schmidt, Ybarra, McIntyre.)

- Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5041 — \"Unemployment insurance benefits for workers unemployed due to strike; up to 12 weeks from 2026–2035; removes certain disqualifications; multiple proposed amendments considered and failed.\" Reported out with a due-pass recommendation. Roll-call: 6 ayes, 3 nays. (Ayes: Berry, Fosse, Scott, Bernofsky, Opress, Ortiz Self; Nays: Schmidt, Ybarra, McIntyre.)

- Substitute Senate Bill 5104 — \"Prohibits employers from threatening an employee’s or family member’s immigration status to deter protected activity.\" Reported out with a due-pass recommendation. Roll-call: 6 ayes, 3 nays. (Ayes: Berry, Fosse, Scott, Bernofsky, Opress, Ortiz Self; Nays: Schmidt, Ybarra, McIntyre.)

- Substitute Senate Bill 5191 — \"Specifies employer status for dock workers for paid family and medical leave purposes.\" Reported out with a due-pass recommendation. Roll-call: 9 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 5435 — \"Reorganizes public employees collective bargaining statute and adds subchapter headings (technical reorganization).\" Reported out with a due-pass recommendation. Roll-call: 9 ayes, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 5463 — \"Extends duty of good faith and fair dealing to all workers' compensation self-insured employers and third-party administrators.\" Reported out with a due-pass recommendation. Roll-call: 6 ayes, 3 nays. (Ayes: Berry, Fosse, Scott, Bernofsky, Opress, Ortiz Self; Nays: Schmidt, Ybarra, McIntyre.)

- Substitute Senate Bill 5501 — \"Prohibits employers from requiring a driver's license as a condition of employment or posting that a driver's license is required.\" Reported out with a due-pass recommendation. Roll-call: 7 ayes, 2 nays. (Ayes: Berry, Fossey, Scott, Schmidt, Bernofsky, Opress, Ortiz Self; Nays: Ybarra, McIntyre.)

Notes on procedure and record

- Each bill was moved and seconded by members of the committee; Vice Chair Scott moved several of the motions. Some bills were the subject of amendments that were considered and rejected in committee (notably SB 5041). Committee staff recorded roll-call votes for each final passage motion and announced the tallies in the hearing record.

- No committee action was recorded for substitute Senate Bill 5503 (PERC changes) during the executive session; that bill was the subject of a public hearing earlier the same day and stakeholders reported ongoing negotiations about draft language.

Sources: House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee staff briefings, sponsor remarks, roll-call tallies recorded in the committee transcript.","During Friday’s executive session the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee moved several bills out with due-pass recommendations. Tally, short description and committee vote for each bill are listed below.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to extend Domestic Violence Leave Act protections to hate-crime victims

Committee advances bill allowing up to 12 weeks of UI for striking workers after debate and failed amendments

Committee hears PERC changes; public employers raise concerns about settlement-waiver ban

Votes at a glance: committee reports seven bills out with due-pass recommendations